[Prompto needs to chew on the inside of his mouth, so as not to show how much that hit him. No one... no one ever said stuff like that to him? The alcohol still in his system, chin trembling only slightly, oh gods don't cry...
He is so thankful for the hair ruffle, even though he protests it weakly by ducking his head and trying to shoo the man away. Muttering a 'thanks' under his breath.
Prompto not knowing how to respond to positive feedback? Makes him keep his mouth shut, nodding a little as he let's Nyx go first. Watching him a moment before he joins him.]
Man... I didn't even know these places existed.
[Something to break the quiet, stepping a little closer to the older man. He felt safe, the warmth from the flame also made him feel better. He shudders a little at how the shadows danced around as they walked, biting back a whine.]
...Do you believe in ghosts?
[A pause.]
I-I mean. I don't! ...But if they did exist I bet they'd be haunting a place like this.
[Nyx contemplates the question, letting Prompto set their pace as he falls into step with him. There are times when he'd think being honest about this would be in poor taste, but he'd hardly backtrack now after commending him on his bravery.]
I believe in daemons.
[Believed in them since the day he first saw one bearing down on the Glaive. It wasn't a good memory. They'd been too inexperienced.]
Outside the Wall? A place like this would be perfect for them. Old, abandoned, forgotten history in ruins.
[If he had to pick a fear.]
But I trust the king. I trust the Wall. If there are any ghosts here...they're the ones watching over their people. Or so the legend goes.
[That he's not so sure he believes in. They all grew up with stories of the Old Wall, but... he shrugs a shoulder.]
Wonder what they'd have lost, to be haunting a quiet place like this.
[He's quiet when he listens, in part because he doesn't know how to respond. Prompto is scared... of most things. Tangible things like failure, and spiders... and most bugs? Okay. All bugs. Pain. Fighting? Being forgotten... living alone. A lot of things. Then there were the fears about ghosts, daemons and everything in between. Treants? They made trees scary!
He steps a little closer, bumping shoulders and he apologizes under his breath.
Prompto contemplates what was last said, turning his gaze down to watch shadows flicker and the slight wobble in his own steps.
To haunt a place like this...]
Maybe they never had anything in the first place.
[It's blurted out before he can stops himself. And now that it's out there he can't bring it back. Hands stretched out in front of him, entwining his fingers together nice and tight to the point his knuckles ache a little.]
A lonely place for a lonely sort of people. I think... if you're so used to the quiet and darkness, where no one knows you exist... you'd be drawn to places like these. Couldn't be near people, it's too noisy and you'd be forced to watch the sort of thing you were never able to obtain when you're alive.
[A tremble. In his tone and his hands, so he untangles his fingers, his right arm stretching to the side so he can touch the old and forgotten concrete and stone that made up the walls.]
So you go somewhere forgotten.
[A beat.]
That's what I think.
[It hits too close to home, and he's not sober enough to realize how it all sounds. Until he does and he blinks back unshed tears. Oh great. He's an emotional drunk! That's not manly!
Huffing out an amused sound, scuffing his shoe lamely.]
Don't listen to me, they fed me waaaaaaaay too many drinks back there! Got me thinking dumb things.
[Nyx ignores the apology, letting their shoulders continue to brush unless Prompto himself moves away again. He unable to disagree entirely with what he's saying, either. It makes sense that the dead and lingering could be lonely. He also can't say he hasn't had the thought before.
What stops him--not abruptly, but a gradual slowing of steps until he's standing and watching Prompto--is how vulnerable he suddenly sounds. As if talking about spirits is somehow personal. The fire flickers, magic a warm, grounding tug in his veins.
He doesn't quite understand. He's seen Prompto and the Prince interact. They were inseperable, practically brothers. His Highness clearly thought the world of him. All Prompto had to do was ask-
But would he? He brushes off a panic attack like it means nothing, shrugs off concern as if he doesn't think people should spend the time and care on him. Probably hasn't even hinted at this around his friends. He's so vibrant'Don't listen to me.' 'Forget it, I'm being dumb.' 'It doesn't matter.'
It meets the guilt lingering in his chest and twists, an ugly lump in his throat. If things were different, Prompto could have been one of them. Almost all of the Glaive had been alone before Regis gave them a purpose. Lost with nothing left to guide them, save for a talent and the trust of a King.
His free hand taps on the hilt of the kukri at his hip and he looks down for a moment; struggling with himself.
Nyx breaks the silence with an uncharacteristically hesitant tone.]
[Prompto slows to a stop when he no longer feels the warmth or Nyx's presence anymore. Dread settles deep in his stomach, something cold and halting that chills him to his core, extinguishing any warmth that he had. Did... did he do something? Say something stupid? Panicking inwardly, trying to remember all of what he's said and done in the past twenty minutes or so.
...All of it was stupid.
Did Nyx finally realize he rescued a total mess?
Prompto turns, worrying his fingers together and his bottom lip between his teeth. He can't quite make eye contact, taking a nervous little step forward towards him. But hesitant.]
[He reaches out, touching fingers to Prompto's arm to guide him towards one of the doors. Here he hesitates again. People don't come down here much on their own, and, well, it's not like the Glaive are often in a habit of showing people the dark corners of the map.
Astrals, Nyx, this is stupid. He takes a deep breath and twists the handle.
Despite the rust and age, the door swings open with barely a whisper of sound. The hingest all much newer than anything else down here. Inside is a room with metal bunks. He absolutely does not pause at all as he steps through and moves to a box in the corner. A few buttons and a swift smack later, and the small generator hums to life. Nyx extinguishes the flame as a lamp wired to the ceiling overhead switches on.
It was clearly put in long after the place was abandoned. The wires were exposed, taped to the ceiling and wall to keep the lamp centered. The bedclothes on several of the bunks also looked newer than ancient, and only marginally dusty. It's clearly a place someone has slept in within the last few years. Several someones.
On a small, twisted table between bunks there's a small collection of books and a deck of cards. Tucked underneath one of the beds is a container of water bottles. There are small chests under the other beds that haven't looked like they've been open for awhile.
The room itself seems plain. The graffiti artists from the tunnel didn't seem to have touched this one. The walls were the same old stone as the rest, with no adornments to imply people lived here once. But Nyx stands on the other side of the room to face the door, and then gestures above it with a nod of his head.]
[He feels like maybe he should be more scared than he actually is: which is not at all. But he trusts Nyx with every fiber of his being, and if the man said he wasn't going to hurt him, then he was certain he couldn't be in a safer place. Safety was with him. That didn't mean his nerves didn't go away, nervous and jumpy were his main settings most of the time? Except during the day he could mask that with jokes and laughter, with a smile that sometimes doesn't quite reach his eyes.
Remaining quiet as he watches the man enter the room, holding back the flurry of questions he wanted to ask. What is this place? Who stays here? Is this what he wanted to show him? Why?
Instead he leans against the door frame, rubbing his arm idly.
Only when Nyx motions for him does he step through the threshold and into the room. Checking the ceiling and maybe the corners for spiders (listen, arachnophobia was also a very real fear of his, and this looked like a spidery place.) But he couldn't see any or anything that would concern himself.
Suddenly feeling shy, he averts his gaze... rubbing his arm again.]
[There's a single spot of colour just above the door. In inexperienced hand, sloppily painted, Hearth and Home stretched across, with smaller words scattered around it. Upon closer inspection, Prompto may recognize some of the names of outer provinces.
Galahd was written up there in Nyx's own hand; his name messy underneath. It's been a long time since he looked at it.
He moves to sit on one of the bunks, resting his elbows on his knees and linking his fingertips together.]
Most of us were refugees. Kids from small towns that had no hope of standing up against the roll of the empire. I guess you could say I was a "ghost" when I arrived in Insomnia.
[Prompto watches him curiously, taking in the room again. He... didn't know where to sit, or where to put himself. He felt out of place and also humbled. The alcohol buzzing at the corner of his mind, it made him a little braver but not by much.]
[Nyx looks up at him again finally, his smile awkward. He's not offended, not in the least. He just....never shared this sort of thing with anyone outside the Glaives.
He shifts his weight to the left along the bed, a silent invitation for Prompto to sit.]
The King saved me. Made me what I am today, it just took a long time to get there.
A lot of us joined together. Not all of us made it. But those of us that did worked twice as hard for the ones that didn't. And when it got a little too much to be alone at night...we'd come here. We'd remember.
[He pauses long enough that his words almost feel weighted when he opens his mouth again.]
Everyone has something, Prompto. Whether it's a grand purpose or the trust of a friend. Maybe you just...really like Wednesday morning cartoons.
[He hesitates at the invitation, but only for a moment. Then he takes the offered seat on the bed. ...Next to him. Maybe a little too close, he wasn't really sure how far apart two men should sit on a bed. He's never! Sat on a bed with another man before!!
...He is overthinking and he knows that.
Hands in his lap, fingers entwined again and he focuses on that, and not the man next to him.]
Oh... I see. That makes sense. It's nice that you all could have this, at the very least.
[But his throat tightens as he listens.
Everyone has something.
His chin trembles and he makes a strained sound that could be thought of as a laugh.]
N-No... no, I know that. I do. I've got Noct, I've got photography. A-And- [Clearing his throat over the lump that was forming.]
I'm lucky, you know? He's a great friend, I've admired him for years. Only... Only recently did I think I was good enough to approach him. I wasn't much when I was a kid, a chubby loner in an empty house. A nobody who wasn't quite right to meet a prince.
But I worked at it. I worked so hard.
Running... helped me reach my goals, but it was also something to do in the morning instead of sitting around an empty kitchen. Something to do after school before I resigned myself to homework, supper then bed. I... I still like to read and play video games by myself, because that's what I always did.
[It was all just coming out and he couldn't stop it. His cheeks felt wet but the reason wasn't registering. Nyx didn't need to hear this, no one needed to hear this. He probably should have slipped his phone in his pocket and tried to duck out of the bar on his own. He always turned into a sad little mess after drinking. Especially when he drank alone.]
But... at the end of the day, when Noct is back home and being a Prince, who am I really? My apartment is so... big? Meant for a family. I don't even remember what a family is. I'm not even allowed beyond the gates to visit my best friend, because I'm insignificant, a lowly peasant scuffing the heels of royal boots.
I'm- I'm okay with it? I think I am. Because the few hours I get, where I can laugh and joke and be okay... it's nice. But I don't like going home. It's empty there... it's quiet. And it makes me feel worthless and insignificant.
Like. Like I don't belong.
[There was so much more that he didn't say. How he would talk constantly to fill the silence within those walls. Turn on the television nice and loud, so the empty spaces had sound. Some sort of life.]
...It's why I went to those bars tonight. I just... wanted to be near people even though I was alone.
[Nyx wants to hug him, but he doesn't know if the gesture would be taken in the spirit it's meant. He wants to comfort him, offer support and genuine care. But would he see it, instead, as pity? Empty sympathy? How does he say he knows what an empty home can be like, even though sometimes it's Nyx's way of winding down from stress? Or that belonging as part of a greater whole often feels like a myth when natural born citizens of Insomnia look at him like he's distasteful and unnecessary?
It's a far cry from not being able to visit your best friend whenever you want to. Nyx, at least, has friends that go through the same things as he does. Friends he can share a beer with and vent.
He leans close enough so that their shoulders are touching, at a bit of a loss.]
You've got a better track record than me. [His tone is even, if a bit self-deprecating.] I don't think I've ever left that bar without being in the middle of the fight. [Until tonight.
Joking aside.]
His Highness values you. I know for a fact he has a sneaking out contingency plan on the off chance he's needed. [Whether it'll work or not is anyone's guess, really, but it's there.]
And...
You have my number. [It's both a fact, and an offer. You asked him for help, and he came. Very few can say they have a Glaive at their side when they need one. Sure, initially it was more out of a need to keep His Highness's best friend out of danger, but he's come to know Prompto a lot more now. He suspects that next time he won't even think about Prince Noctis before agreeing to come.]
Any time, day or night. If I'm able, then there's nothing that'll keep me from answering.
[Prompto can feel himself lean against him more than he intended. Someone so starved for any sort of attention, anything from someone else. It's why he laughed so loud, inviting people near him because he needed it. To have it from Nyx in a moment where he felt vulnerable and alone, he counted it as a blessing.
He's quiet for a long moment, worrying his fingers together a bit more, trying to pull them free because his finger joints were starting to ache.
Finally he's wiping his eyes on the hem of his shirt, which he's pulling out because man... did he ever get gross with the waterworks. Ugh... in front of someone he admired so much. Good job, Prompto.]
Yeah...
Yeah.
[Finally a smile breaks on his face, it's shy and simple but it's there.]
You don't need to do that, but I appreciate it. You were incredible tonight. Savin' my butt.
Only because you were there! I'm braver in numbers. I was thinking I should do something before that wall of a dude tried to punch you or something.
[The smirk catches him off guard, so he ducks his head a little shyly to avoid eye contact. Man... man this was so unfair? No one should look that good. Did he even realize it??? Jeez!
Prompto is having the heart palpitations again as Nyx's warmth envelopes him. He can't help but sink into the man almost immediately. He was an opportunist, you know? And since this will (probably?) never happen again, he should be allowed to indulge a little bit right?
Right.]
You did. ...Although I thought that was more of a... clever ruse to make sure that dude wouldn't eat me.
[He's shakes his head, laughing. To think he was the one who got protected in this scenario. Who called who, again?]
Not in the least. And I think lying about food truck gourmet is a crime, or something.
[Admittedly at the moment he thinks you're drunk and at your emotional limit, so he is completely oblivious that Prompto is deliberately cuddling him, rather than just welcoming the support and comfort. So here he is, tightening the hug a bit more as he's leaned against.]
[The thing about being this close and making Nyx laugh, is the fact that he could hear it rumble through his chest, the puff of air from the exhale of laughter brushing against his hair. Goosebumps breaking across the small of his back and the nape of his neck again, he has to suppress the shiver because that would be obvious, and he was sober enough to be aware of that much.]
It could be a crime. I'm not the Crownsguard or anything, but I am in tight with the prince you know.
[A cheeky sort of tone of his own. As hungry as he felt, he wanted to enjoy his chest a little longer if he can.]
Then I guess we'd better get going before I make a liar out of me.
[He ruffles Prompto's hair again, sliding his fingers up over the back of his skull in an overly familiar gesture, but otherwise doesn't make to get up.
He's content to sit until Prompto is ready to go.]
[He knew it couldn't last very long, but he's so reluctant to move. Leaning into every touch, and this time he can't hide the shiver that Nyx's fingers coax from him. Biting his bottom lip briefly, he should... move. He needs to move.
Food, right? Maybe he can ask him to walk him home... that could be nice. Steal his attention and time selfishly for as long as he was allowed.
Maybe he can steal a peek before he pulls away. Glancing up through thick, fair lashes, taking in the strong jawline and the peppering of scruff. He wondered how that would feel against his palm, or... more sensitive parts of him.
[Nyx is watching him idly, wondering if it's gotten a little cold now that the fire's been out. Or maybe it's something else?
Without warning, he rests his palm on the back of Prompto's neck to hold him still as he rests their foreheads together. If he's getting feverish then Nyx definitely needs to get him home as soon as possible so he can rest. The lower city is no place for someone getting sick.]
Breath hitching at the proximity, Nyx had the nicest eyes and the nicest everything. He was so close and it was hard to escape. He should escape. Gaze flickering to his lips briefly before he (very bravely) attempted to maintain eye contact. He's aware of the flustered burning at the tips of his ears, and the blush creeping up his neck to make his freckles stand out just a little more than usual.
The problem with being so fair.]
I'm fine, I promise.
[Tone soft because he is so close.]
Time to get some eats, right?
[Fingertips unwittingly brushing against Nyx's knee, his heart hammering hard in his chest, and he wondered if the man could hear it from where he is.]
...Please?
[That comes out softer, carried on a whisper. Uttered in such a way that he didn't mean for it to sound like that.
Sure was a night for being embarrassingly obvious.]
Now, Nyx isn't stupid. Living here means he has had numerous individuals who saw him out of uniform and decided to try their hand at gaining his attentions.
Look, he's human, okay? And constant war doesn't exactly lend itself to a steady relationship with lots of hugs. Some of the Glaive slept with each other, which solves a problem, but most of them generally keep it outside the proverbial family. Less complicated.
His only excuse for missing it this long is that he'd been so concerned for Prompto's well-being and damn the man is subtle. Usually being drunk makes that more blatant. Usually when one is drunk they're also not having painful heart to hearts either.
But it's hard to ignore in close proximity. Prompto's face flushes warm enough that Nyx can feel it where they're touching. His freckles almost seem to multiply against his skin, and there's a particular coeurl-in-headlights look to his eyes that makes Nyx hyperaware of when he sneaks a glance at his lips.
Recognition dawns in the widening of his own eyes, a slight parting of his lips in surprise. The touch to his knee makes the muscles in his leg twitch, and Prompto's voice was a bare whisper that Nyx felt on his skin.
Oh.
He gently pulls back so that he's not so close that his eyes want to cross in order to focus on Prompto's face.]
Sounds like a plan.
[He's not whispering in return, unwilling to make this more intimate. Maybe if Prompto hadn't been drinking, hadn't been through an extensive emotional roller coaster. It would have been interesting to find out just how brave Prompto could have been. But...not now. Nyx would have been taking advantage and then he'd have to have Crowe kill him to salvage his soul.
He tightens his grip a little on the back of Prompto's neck, a grounding touch to remind him of the here and now, and a reassurance that Nyx isn't going anywhere.]
It was all so overwhelming and warm, so easy to get lost and selfish. The touch brings him to where they are, erasing the warmth and fuzz cloying to the corners of his mind. He smiles then, something to reassure the man and himself. A little hint of sunshine in a lonely little place. A special sort of place he was thankful that Nyx showed him.]
Sure am.
[Still flustered, his heart and stomach clenching and doing these flippy little things that make him feel light and strange but wonderful all at the same time?
It's weird.
So he moves first, getting to his feet. The telltale wobble of gentle intoxication but he was perfectly solid otherwise.]
Anytime. Day or night. [A reiteration from his earlier promise.
He pushes up to his feet with an over exaggerated 'whoof' of breath, stretching his arms above his head and extending as far as he can. His back aligns with a very satisfying pop that makes him groan.
He's not doing it on purpose, but it occurs to him after a moment how that might have looked, and if his own face is a little awkwardly red as he moves to turn off the generator, well. He's blaming it on the fire he's already calling up in his palm before the lights go out.]
[It's meant in a lighthearted way, hands behind his back as he leans up on the balls of his feet, waiting for Nyx to get up so they can get going.
His gaze lingers when it shouldn't, he couldn't stop himself from wetting his lips absently as he watches the man move. The sound of a groan nearly brought another shiver from him. This... was dangerous.
He has the good graces to turn and look towards the doorway. He didn't want to get caught staring, the other moment was awkward enough.]
I haven't had a skewer in awhile! I'm excited.
[Can't see the flush as he's stepping ahead and out through the door. Feeling a little braver.]
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He is so thankful for the hair ruffle, even though he protests it weakly by ducking his head and trying to shoo the man away. Muttering a 'thanks' under his breath.
Prompto not knowing how to respond to positive feedback? Makes him keep his mouth shut, nodding a little as he let's Nyx go first. Watching him a moment before he joins him.]
Man... I didn't even know these places existed.
[Something to break the quiet, stepping a little closer to the older man. He felt safe, the warmth from the flame also made him feel better. He shudders a little at how the shadows danced around as they walked, biting back a whine.]
...Do you believe in ghosts?
[A pause.]
I-I mean. I don't! ...But if they did exist I bet they'd be haunting a place like this.
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I believe in daemons.
[Believed in them since the day he first saw one bearing down on the Glaive. It wasn't a good memory. They'd been too inexperienced.]
Outside the Wall? A place like this would be perfect for them. Old, abandoned, forgotten history in ruins.
[If he had to pick a fear.]
But I trust the king. I trust the Wall. If there are any ghosts here...they're the ones watching over their people. Or so the legend goes.
[That he's not so sure he believes in. They all grew up with stories of the Old Wall, but... he shrugs a shoulder.]
Wonder what they'd have lost, to be haunting a quiet place like this.
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He steps a little closer, bumping shoulders and he apologizes under his breath.
Prompto contemplates what was last said, turning his gaze down to watch shadows flicker and the slight wobble in his own steps.
To haunt a place like this...]
Maybe they never had anything in the first place.
[It's blurted out before he can stops himself. And now that it's out there he can't bring it back. Hands stretched out in front of him, entwining his fingers together nice and tight to the point his knuckles ache a little.]
A lonely place for a lonely sort of people. I think... if you're so used to the quiet and darkness, where no one knows you exist... you'd be drawn to places like these. Couldn't be near people, it's too noisy and you'd be forced to watch the sort of thing you were never able to obtain when you're alive.
[A tremble. In his tone and his hands, so he untangles his fingers, his right arm stretching to the side so he can touch the old and forgotten concrete and stone that made up the walls.]
So you go somewhere forgotten.
[A beat.]
That's what I think.
[It hits too close to home, and he's not sober enough to realize how it all sounds. Until he does and he blinks back unshed tears. Oh great. He's an emotional drunk! That's not manly!
Huffing out an amused sound, scuffing his shoe lamely.]
Don't listen to me, they fed me waaaaaaaay too many drinks back there! Got me thinking dumb things.
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What stops him--not abruptly, but a gradual slowing of steps until he's standing and watching Prompto--is how vulnerable he suddenly sounds. As if talking about spirits is somehow personal. The fire flickers, magic a warm, grounding tug in his veins.
He doesn't quite understand. He's seen Prompto and the Prince interact. They were inseperable, practically brothers. His Highness clearly thought the world of him. All Prompto had to do was ask-
But would he? He brushes off a panic attack like it means nothing, shrugs off concern as if he doesn't think people should spend the time and care on him. Probably hasn't even hinted at this around his friends. He's so vibrant'Don't listen to me.' 'Forget it, I'm being dumb.' 'It doesn't matter.'
It meets the guilt lingering in his chest and twists, an ugly lump in his throat. If things were different, Prompto could have been one of them. Almost all of the Glaive had been alone before Regis gave them a purpose. Lost with nothing left to guide them, save for a talent and the trust of a King.
His free hand taps on the hilt of the kukri at his hip and he looks down for a moment; struggling with himself.
Nyx breaks the silence with an uncharacteristically hesitant tone.]
I...want to show you something.
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...All of it was stupid.
Did Nyx finally realize he rescued a total mess?
Prompto turns, worrying his fingers together and his bottom lip between his teeth. He can't quite make eye contact, taking a nervous little step forward towards him. But hesitant.]
...Yeah?
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Astrals, Nyx, this is stupid. He takes a deep breath and twists the handle.
Despite the rust and age, the door swings open with barely a whisper of sound. The hingest all much newer than anything else down here. Inside is a room with metal bunks. He absolutely does not pause at all as he steps through and moves to a box in the corner. A few buttons and a swift smack later, and the small generator hums to life. Nyx extinguishes the flame as a lamp wired to the ceiling overhead switches on.
It was clearly put in long after the place was abandoned. The wires were exposed, taped to the ceiling and wall to keep the lamp centered. The bedclothes on several of the bunks also looked newer than ancient, and only marginally dusty. It's clearly a place someone has slept in within the last few years. Several someones.
On a small, twisted table between bunks there's a small collection of books and a deck of cards. Tucked underneath one of the beds is a container of water bottles. There are small chests under the other beds that haven't looked like they've been open for awhile.
The room itself seems plain. The graffiti artists from the tunnel didn't seem to have touched this one. The walls were the same old stone as the rest, with no adornments to imply people lived here once. But Nyx stands on the other side of the room to face the door, and then gestures above it with a nod of his head.]
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Remaining quiet as he watches the man enter the room, holding back the flurry of questions he wanted to ask. What is this place? Who stays here? Is this what he wanted to show him? Why?
Instead he leans against the door frame, rubbing his arm idly.
Only when Nyx motions for him does he step through the threshold and into the room. Checking the ceiling and maybe the corners for spiders (listen, arachnophobia was also a very real fear of his, and this looked like a spidery place.) But he couldn't see any or anything that would concern himself.
Suddenly feeling shy, he averts his gaze... rubbing his arm again.]
So uh... what is this place?
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Galahd was written up there in Nyx's own hand; his name messy underneath. It's been a long time since he looked at it.
He moves to sit on one of the bunks, resting his elbows on his knees and linking his fingertips together.]
Most of us were refugees. Kids from small towns that had no hope of standing up against the roll of the empire. I guess you could say I was a "ghost" when I arrived in Insomnia.
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S-Sorry... if I said something to offend you.
[The ghost thing.]
But you're not a ghost anymore, right?
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He shifts his weight to the left along the bed, a silent invitation for Prompto to sit.]
The King saved me. Made me what I am today, it just took a long time to get there.
A lot of us joined together. Not all of us made it. But those of us that did worked twice as hard for the ones that didn't. And when it got a little too much to be alone at night...we'd come here. We'd remember.
[He pauses long enough that his words almost feel weighted when he opens his mouth again.]
Everyone has something, Prompto. Whether it's a grand purpose or the trust of a friend. Maybe you just...really like Wednesday morning cartoons.
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...He is overthinking and he knows that.
Hands in his lap, fingers entwined again and he focuses on that, and not the man next to him.]
Oh... I see. That makes sense. It's nice that you all could have this, at the very least.
[But his throat tightens as he listens.
Everyone has something.
His chin trembles and he makes a strained sound that could be thought of as a laugh.]
N-No... no, I know that. I do. I've got Noct, I've got photography. A-And- [Clearing his throat over the lump that was forming.]
I'm lucky, you know? He's a great friend, I've admired him for years. Only... Only recently did I think I was good enough to approach him. I wasn't much when I was a kid, a chubby loner in an empty house. A nobody who wasn't quite right to meet a prince.
But I worked at it. I worked so hard.
Running... helped me reach my goals, but it was also something to do in the morning instead of sitting around an empty kitchen. Something to do after school before I resigned myself to homework, supper then bed. I... I still like to read and play video games by myself, because that's what I always did.
[It was all just coming out and he couldn't stop it. His cheeks felt wet but the reason wasn't registering. Nyx didn't need to hear this, no one needed to hear this. He probably should have slipped his phone in his pocket and tried to duck out of the bar on his own. He always turned into a sad little mess after drinking. Especially when he drank alone.]
But... at the end of the day, when Noct is back home and being a Prince, who am I really? My apartment is so... big? Meant for a family. I don't even remember what a family is. I'm not even allowed beyond the gates to visit my best friend, because I'm insignificant, a lowly peasant scuffing the heels of royal boots.
I'm- I'm okay with it? I think I am. Because the few hours I get, where I can laugh and joke and be okay... it's nice. But I don't like going home. It's empty there... it's quiet. And it makes me feel worthless and insignificant.
Like. Like I don't belong.
[There was so much more that he didn't say. How he would talk constantly to fill the silence within those walls. Turn on the television nice and loud, so the empty spaces had sound. Some sort of life.]
...It's why I went to those bars tonight. I just... wanted to be near people even though I was alone.
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It's a far cry from not being able to visit your best friend whenever you want to. Nyx, at least, has friends that go through the same things as he does. Friends he can share a beer with and vent.
He leans close enough so that their shoulders are touching, at a bit of a loss.]
You've got a better track record than me. [His tone is even, if a bit self-deprecating.] I don't think I've ever left that bar without being in the middle of the fight. [Until tonight.
Joking aside.]
His Highness values you. I know for a fact he has a sneaking out contingency plan on the off chance he's needed. [Whether it'll work or not is anyone's guess, really, but it's there.]
And...
You have my number. [It's both a fact, and an offer. You asked him for help, and he came. Very few can say they have a Glaive at their side when they need one. Sure, initially it was more out of a need to keep His Highness's best friend out of danger, but he's come to know Prompto a lot more now. He suspects that next time he won't even think about Prince Noctis before agreeing to come.]
Any time, day or night. If I'm able, then there's nothing that'll keep me from answering.
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He's quiet for a long moment, worrying his fingers together a bit more, trying to pull them free because his finger joints were starting to ache.
Finally he's wiping his eyes on the hem of his shirt, which he's pulling out because man... did he ever get gross with the waterworks. Ugh... in front of someone he admired so much. Good job, Prompto.]
Yeah...
Yeah.
[Finally a smile breaks on his face, it's shy and simple but it's there.]
You don't need to do that, but I appreciate it. You were incredible tonight. Savin' my butt.
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[Now that is a cheeky smirk on his face. He will remember that moment until he's dead; you'd better believe it.
Nyx wraps his arm around Prompto's shoulders this time, pulling him close against his side and gripping reassuringly.]
I promised you food.
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[The smirk catches him off guard, so he ducks his head a little shyly to avoid eye contact. Man... man this was so unfair? No one should look that good. Did he even realize it??? Jeez!
Prompto is having the heart palpitations again as Nyx's warmth envelopes him. He can't help but sink into the man almost immediately. He was an opportunist, you know? And since this will (probably?) never happen again, he should be allowed to indulge a little bit right?
Right.]
You did. ...Although I thought that was more of a... clever ruse to make sure that dude wouldn't eat me.
[He makes no effort to move, however.]
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Not in the least. And I think lying about food truck gourmet is a crime, or something.
[Admittedly at the moment he thinks you're drunk and at your emotional limit, so he is completely oblivious that Prompto is deliberately cuddling him, rather than just welcoming the support and comfort. So here he is, tightening the hug a bit more as he's leaned against.]
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It could be a crime. I'm not the Crownsguard or anything, but I am in tight with the prince you know.
[A cheeky sort of tone of his own. As hungry as he felt, he wanted to enjoy his chest a little longer if he can.]
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[He ruffles Prompto's hair again, sliding his fingers up over the back of his skull in an overly familiar gesture, but otherwise doesn't make to get up.
He's content to sit until Prompto is ready to go.]
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[He knew it couldn't last very long, but he's so reluctant to move. Leaning into every touch, and this time he can't hide the shiver that Nyx's fingers coax from him. Biting his bottom lip briefly, he should... move. He needs to move.
Food, right? Maybe he can ask him to walk him home... that could be nice. Steal his attention and time selfishly for as long as he was allowed.
Maybe he can steal a peek before he pulls away. Glancing up through thick, fair lashes, taking in the strong jawline and the peppering of scruff. He wondered how that would feel against his palm, or... more sensitive parts of him.
...
This crush was getting out of hand fast.]
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Without warning, he rests his palm on the back of Prompto's neck to hold him still as he rests their foreheads together. If he's getting feverish then Nyx definitely needs to get him home as soon as possible so he can rest. The lower city is no place for someone getting sick.]
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And it was almost painful.
Breath hitching at the proximity, Nyx had the nicest eyes and the nicest everything. He was so close and it was hard to escape. He should escape. Gaze flickering to his lips briefly before he (very bravely) attempted to maintain eye contact. He's aware of the flustered burning at the tips of his ears, and the blush creeping up his neck to make his freckles stand out just a little more than usual.
The problem with being so fair.]
I'm fine, I promise.
[Tone soft because he is so close.]
Time to get some eats, right?
[Fingertips unwittingly brushing against Nyx's knee, his heart hammering hard in his chest, and he wondered if the man could hear it from where he is.]
...Please?
[That comes out softer, carried on a whisper. Uttered in such a way that he didn't mean for it to sound like that.
Sure was a night for being embarrassingly obvious.]
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Oh.
Now, Nyx isn't stupid. Living here means he has had numerous individuals who saw him out of uniform and decided to try their hand at gaining his attentions.
Look, he's human, okay? And constant war doesn't exactly lend itself to a steady relationship with lots of hugs. Some of the Glaive slept with each other, which solves a problem, but most of them generally keep it outside the proverbial family. Less complicated.
His only excuse for missing it this long is that he'd been so concerned for Prompto's well-being and damn the man is subtle. Usually being drunk makes that more blatant. Usually when one is drunk they're also not having painful heart to hearts either.
But it's hard to ignore in close proximity. Prompto's face flushes warm enough that Nyx can feel it where they're touching. His freckles almost seem to multiply against his skin, and there's a particular coeurl-in-headlights look to his eyes that makes Nyx hyperaware of when he sneaks a glance at his lips.
Recognition dawns in the widening of his own eyes, a slight parting of his lips in surprise. The touch to his knee makes the muscles in his leg twitch, and Prompto's voice was a bare whisper that Nyx felt on his skin.
Oh.
He gently pulls back so that he's not so close that his eyes want to cross in order to focus on Prompto's face.]
Sounds like a plan.
[He's not whispering in return, unwilling to make this more intimate. Maybe if Prompto hadn't been drinking, hadn't been through an extensive emotional roller coaster. It would have been interesting to find out just how brave Prompto could have been. But...not now. Nyx would have been taking advantage and then he'd have to have Crowe kill him to salvage his soul.
He tightens his grip a little on the back of Prompto's neck, a grounding touch to remind him of the here and now, and a reassurance that Nyx isn't going anywhere.]
You good to keep going now?
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It was all so overwhelming and warm, so easy to get lost and selfish. The touch brings him to where they are, erasing the warmth and fuzz cloying to the corners of his mind. He smiles then, something to reassure the man and himself. A little hint of sunshine in a lonely little place. A special sort of place he was thankful that Nyx showed him.]
Sure am.
[Still flustered, his heart and stomach clenching and doing these flippy little things that make him feel light and strange but wonderful all at the same time?
It's weird.
So he moves first, getting to his feet. The telltale wobble of gentle intoxication but he was perfectly solid otherwise.]
...Thanks, you know. For everything.
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He pushes up to his feet with an over exaggerated 'whoof' of breath, stretching his arms above his head and extending as far as he can. His back aligns with a very satisfying pop that makes him groan.
He's not doing it on purpose, but it occurs to him after a moment how that might have looked, and if his own face is a little awkwardly red as he moves to turn off the generator, well. He's blaming it on the fire he's already calling up in his palm before the lights go out.]
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[It's meant in a lighthearted way, hands behind his back as he leans up on the balls of his feet, waiting for Nyx to get up so they can get going.
His gaze lingers when it shouldn't, he couldn't stop himself from wetting his lips absently as he watches the man move. The sound of a groan nearly brought another shiver from him. This... was dangerous.
He has the good graces to turn and look towards the doorway. He didn't want to get caught staring, the other moment was awkward enough.]
I haven't had a skewer in awhile! I'm excited.
[Can't see the flush as he's stepping ahead and out through the door. Feeling a little braver.]
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