"That's why I told myself I couldn't die. Not until I could see you, and hear you tell me that I'm not a fake- that I'm the real me." Promto's words ran through Noct's mind as he tossed in his bunk, the only sound in the dormitory Gladio's heavy snoring. Prompto had already forgiven him for the train, but he couldn't shake the lingering guilt in the pit of his stomach. The feeling of shame dwelling in him that made him want to curl into a ball and disappear.

"Noct, you awake?" A soft whisper, barely audible over the couple of feet of space between them, floated over from the bunk where Prompto lay.

"Yeah," He whispered back, careful not to wake the other two.

"Can we talk for a bit?" The words sounded hesitant, still full of self doubt and afraid of rejection.

Noctis felt a stab in his chest, knowing he was the source of the other's pain. "Yeah, of course." He sat up carefully, swinging bare feet over the side of the bed, a shiver running through him as they met the cold floor. He didn't wait for Prompto to sit up, but shifted over to sit on his bed instead, hoping that the closeness would reassure his friend that they still were friends, that he didn't think any less of him just because of his past. "What's up?"

There was a long moment where Prompto didn't say anything, and it wasn't like him to be so quiet. It reminded him of the somber mood on top of that cheap motel what seemed a lifetime ago when Prompto admitted his insecurity.

Finally Prompto drew in a ragged breath, the kind that told Noctis he was fighting back tears. "I don't really know what I wanted to say, I just… I'm…" A harsh exhale as he struggled with his emotions. "I'm just so sad." The last part was so quiet Noct wasn't sure he'd heard it at all, but it tore through him all the same.

"I know," He found himself replying. "I know what you mean, that is." His hand came up and rubbed that painful empty spot in his chest, like a darkness settled in deep next to his heart. "But we're here for you, no matter what. I'm here for you."

Prompto shifted where he lay behind him, his hands coming out and grasping Noctis's. Neither of them said anything as Prompto clung to him, silent sobs racking his body.

Some time later, when Noct was sure Prompto had fallen asleep he moved to go back to his bunk, but the hands grasping his tightened. "Can you stay here for a while longer?"

A small smile spread across Noctis's lips, and the darkness in his chest lessened just a bit. "Yeah, sure."