Hey, everyone! Sorry for the absence in updates these last few months. MistahRoi and I have been going through a lot, and we needed to focus on our real life situations. But we're back, and hopefully, we can keep to a good update schedule in the future!

This chapter is dedicated to Celia, who always believes in us, even when we don't believe in ourselves.

~MrB

BETA LOVE TO THE AMAZING LONDONSLEGEND!

I just need enough of you to dull the pain

Just to get me through the night till we're twins again

'Til we're stripped down to our skeletons again

'Til we're saints just swimming in our sins again

And there's a jet black crow droning on and on and on

Up above our heads droning on and on and on

Keep making trouble 'til you find what you love

I need a new partner in crime and you shrug

~"Twin Skeleton's (Hotel in NYC)" by Fall Out Boy

Chapter Nine:
Fractured

Noctis stood stark still, unable to move. The wind howled in his ears, but he barely registered it. His hands were numb - so was his tongue. It felt like lead weighted in his mouth, rendering him speechless.

What just happened? He could barely comprehend it. Somehow, someway, he'd let himself become vulnerable for half a moment - had lowered his guard enough to show his true feelings to the one person in the world he thought would never judge him. And yet...yet, how had this gone so horribly, indescribably wrong?

Noct began to pace. He wasn't in control of his legs; they just moved of their own accord, this way and that, scuffing his boots along the top of the roof. The bright, neon sign radiated heat from its lighting, but not one bit of Noctis could sense the warmth. He felt as hollow and dark as the day Insomnia fell, but worse, because Prompto no longer stood by his side. He was gone, down the side of the building, walking across the street toward the diner.

As if he hadn't crashed into Noctis' psyche like a speeding car moments before.

As if he hadn't rejected him.

Shit.

"Shit," Noctis whispered, mimicking his thoughts. "What the Hell was I…" He knew it was a stupid idea, cornering Prompto the way he had. But, at the same time, it never crossed his mind that, should he do it, he would be thrown into the abyss of a broken heart without so much as a ladder of hope. He'd only kept himself away from the edge for fear of hurting Prompto.

Idiot. I'm such a fucking idiot. Why had Noctis assumed Prompto would want him back? He felt less like a prince and more like those sickening school girls he'd turn down in junior high. His stomach squeezed tightly in his abdomen, his palms were sweaty, and he had the sudden urge to vomit.

Prompto didn't want him.

Prompto didn't want him.

"Shit," he said again, casting out his arm and summoning his pair of daggers. He slung them over the edge of the roof and phased to them, gripping around the handles at the same time that his eyes danced over the horizon. Again - and again - he threw his blades, moving closer to the ground each time, but also further away from the motel. From the buildings. From civilization. Noctis wanted - no, needed to be alone with his thoughts. There was no way in Hell he could form a coherent sentence, much less a thought, if he returned to their motel room now. No doubt Gladio would be there, and Noctis...he couldn't deal right now.

Over and over again he slung his daggers until the lights of the town faded, and only the moon provided sight in the darkened terrain. His last and final magical shift landed him on top of a cliff, where he stared out over the valley and dispelled his daggers completely.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he reached for it instinctively, nearly hoping to see Prompto's name light up on the screen. Instead, it was a message from Ignis.

'Are you safe?'

Noctis rolled his eyes, debating whether or not he wanted to text back. His thumb hovered over the touchscreen keyboard, but he couldn't bring himself to reply. Let them worry a minute, he thought, knowing it was selfish. He stowed his phone back in his pocket, guilt already welling up inside his gut.

This wasn't Ignis' fault.

No, but there was no doubt in his mind that Ignis wouldn't send a text like that if he didn't have some clue what was going on. Damn Prompto and his big mouth...this had nothing to do with the others. Right? This was between the two of them. What right did Prompto have to let Ignis in on any of it?

Of course, it wasn't like the guys hadn't figured it out. If Gladio's 'pep talk' was anything to go off of, Noctis was surely one blow up away from throwing all of his cards on the table and telling everyone to mind their own business.

His thoughts turned angry, and they focused entirely on Prompto.

Prompto, who always had Noct's back, even when he shouldn't have. Prompto, who cared more than any of them. Prompto, who slaved away under pain and stress with a smile, determined to make everyone happy. Prompto, his best friend, and yet something more. Something Noctis couldn't deny, even with this hole in his heart.

"Why do I have to be so…" Noctis growled, irritated. Why couldn't his feelings for Prompto be simple, like how it was between himself and Ignis or Gladio? Why was he even considering things with Prompto when he had Luna to think about? Why was he so selfish?

But the biggest question of all swirling around in his brain was: why did Prompto reject him?

All of the signs - had he misread them? All of them?

"Dammit!" Noctis summoned his broadsword and swung it wildly into the boulder's surface. The rocky terrain beneath him cracked, echoing down the ravine below. Eyes wide, Noctis stared down at the fissure beneath his feet. He'd never been what anyone would call 'physically strong.' Noctis was nimble, made for stealth. He guessed being a prince with otherworldly powers had its advantages…

Suddenly, he had the urge to drive his blade into anything - everything. With a twisted smirk, Noctis hurled his sword over the edge of the cliff and delighted in the rush he felt when he phased to it, falling to the ground below, the wind whipping in his hair. It was the first time the feeling registered against his skin, and he revelled in it.

Quickly, he gripped the hilt and sent the sword sideways into the body of the cliff. Like a daredevil, he let himself fall just a bit further before he phased and reappeared with the sword as it dug into the thick rock, catching him before he plummeted the rest of the way down.

Noctis' blood pumped in his eardrums and throat - an adrenaline spike, no doubt, begging him to choose caution. But the rest of Noctis begged for more. He found his mind numb, his body pulsing with life, and he wanted more. Anything to get rid of the blue eyes he saw every time he closed his eyelids. Anything to dispel this emptiness.

A family of coeurl could be spotted in the distance beneath the moonlight glow. Their mistake, Noctis thought, being out here at the same time as me. Noctis wasn't a killer by want, only by necessity, but tonight he wanted nothing more than to drive his blade into any creature that crossed his path.

He could hear Ignis' voice nagging him in the back of his mind: It is dangerous to travel at night.

It was also dangerous to trust a heart to anyone.

With that thought solidified in his mind, Noctis phased down to the ground and traveled on foot across the wet earth - had it rained recently? Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered. Not the chill in the air or the phone now buzzing like a lighting bolt in his pocket, sending jolts against his ass cheek. Only the light on his jacket mattered. Only the way his boots slapped against the damp earth and the coeurl ahead scampering at the sound, ears perked in high alert.

They didn't stand a chance.

One moment, Noctis was hurtling through the air - a blip of blue and sonic speed. The next, his daggers were slicing through flesh. It took him all of ten seconds to take down the six coeurl, making easy kills of them all. He didn't think as he worked, only focused on the here and now. It felt exhilarating not to think.

Blood splattered the already soggy dirt, and the wind picked up in Noctis' ears. He checked the time on his phone, ignoring the five missed calls from Ignis and the text from Gladio.

Two hours? Had it really been that long?

It was like being reminded of the time took its toll on the prince; sleepiness drowned him, settling into his joints and muscles. The pain was still there, yes, but coated with a thick layer of exhaustion that had Noct's body begging for a warm bed and a place to rest his head.

Just as Noctis pressed the dial button to call Ignis back, he heard a large groan from behind. Phone still pressed to his ear, he turned, eyes widening at the portal opening up twenty feet away. An arm the size of the Regalia protruded up out of it, thick and leathery.

"Noct?" Ignis answered, his voice crisp and concerned. "Are you alright? Where are you-"

"Uhh, Iggy...I gotta call you back," Noctis muttered, stowing his phone in his back pocket, unsure if he'd pushed the 'End Call' button. His arm shot out, retrieving his axe from his magical arsenal of weapons. "Greeeaaat. Just my luck."

The Red Giant towering over him said nothing in return; of course, why would the beast reply?

Shit. Noctis had never taken on one of these things on his own. His thoughts turned to phasing right before the giant swept its arm across the ground, causing the earth to shake and sending Noctis off balance. He acted on instinct, casting his axe out toward the Giant and phasing to it just as its blade sunk into the arm of the beast. "Shiiiiiit!" It barely dented the hardened exterior, and Noctis found himself sliding down the belly of the beast, toward the massive feet that could no doubt crush him in an instant. On a dime, Noctis turned his body out, threw out his axe, and phased away - but not far enough. The beast thrust its hand out and grabbed him mid-air, its massive fingers curling around Noctis and constricting him.

Noct could feel the wind being crushed out of him, and he panicked. Never before had he found himself alone and vulnerable - fear flooded his system. No way. This wasn't how this was gonna end -

"Nooooct!"

A javelin flew by Noct's head and skidded across the Giant's breast plate.

"Ignis?"

Noctis whipped his head around just as a lighting bolt crashed down on the Giant's head, forcing it to release Noctis. He dropped to the ground with a thud, but he was alive, and that was something.

"Of all the infantile, ludacris feats," Ignis was muttering, dashing to Noctis' side and slamming a potion down onto his leg. A wave of icy healing washed over the prince, and he pulled himself up to his feet, nearly tempted to throw his arms around his advisor. He stifled the urge when the groaning of metal caught his attention, and he grabbed Ignis around the wrist and phased them both a good ten feet away, and then another, and another, until they were finally out of the beast's sight. With a final phase, they both tumbled into the mud, Ignis on his stomach and Noctis on his back beside him, gasping in the cool, night air, thankful for being alive.

"Holy Hells," Noctis laughed in shock. "We're alive."

"No thanks to you," Ignis muttered, pushing himself up so that his chin wasn't resting in mud. His glasses lain askew, and his hair was mildly disheveled, which was to say, for Ignis, too messy for his liking. "What in Bahamut's name were you thinking going out alone?"

"I…" The young prince felt humility wash over him as reality hit him like a splash of cold water. "I-I…" He didn't have an excuse. Not one. "I wanted to be alone," he said lamely.

"Yes, well, do us all a favor and next time be alone somewhere where there isn't Red Giants meandering about!"

"Iggs, I'm sor-"

"-Sorry will not begin to cover it, Noctis." Ignis glared in his direction, a mixture of hurt and dismay fractured across his face. That's when Noctis knew he'd crossed a line. Silence engulfed the conversation, swallowing it whole, until Ignis finally mumbled, "I'm glad you're alright."

"Yeah," Noctis whispered, ashamed of himself. "You too."

The trek back to the motel was a quiet one, leaving Noctis alone with his own thoughts once again. He couldn't believe how childishly he'd acted in his fit of embarrassment towards Prompto. He was a prince - no. A king. Kings didn't wander off on their own and nearly get themselves killed over a broken heart. At least, he'd never heard his dad mention doing anything so reckless in his youth.

When the two stumbled in, covered in mud and grime, Gladio stared at them from his spot atop the bed, chopsticks full of noodles halfway to his lips. He set them back down inside his take out container, raised a thick eyebrow, and said, "Food was gettin' cold. Where'd you two get off to?"

Ignis said nothing as he proceeded to remove his boots and jacket. Noctis slumped into the sunken in chair next to the window, anxious and guilty.

"Noct's other half comin'?"

The question sliced a painful reminder of rejection into Noctis' heart. "Like I care," he grumbled.

"I believe he's fallen asleep in the car," Ignis replied curtly, shooting Noctis a withering expression.

Gladio shifted his gaze between Ignis and Noctis before asking, "Anything I should know?"

Noctis couldn't take the heat from Ignis' glare and shot back to the room, "Nothing that's any of your business. I'm gonna go shower." He pushed himself up out of the chair.

"S'cuse me," Gladio quipped back, "I didn't realize our princess was gonna be so prissy tonight."

Unable to find a good comeback, Noctis settled on slamming the bathroom door aggressively, uncaring of the way it caused the entire door frame to rattle.

The morning sun came with even more problems. Noctis had been lucky enough that Ignis bunked with Gladio, leaving Noctis alone in his bed meant for two. When he rolled over in his sleep-induced lull, he almost expected to find the warmth of a familiar body next to him, but he was reminded by the cold sheets that Prompto had slept in the car the night before.

Hurt filled him up all over again. Guilt came in waves, but that hurt never left him - not even in his dreams the night before. Prompto might as well have unloaded his pistol in Noctis' sternum - it probably would have hurt less. His ribcage even stung - of course, that was possibly due to the small bursts of silent crying he did last night. Not that he'd ever admit it to anyone.

In between his sleepy state, he heard murmuring from the bathroom, and out of curiosity, he strained to listen, fearing it might be Prompto. But it wasn't the gunman. Gladio's burly voice carried, even at a whisper.

"-gotta do this, Iggs. I can't call myself a Shield unless I do."

"Noctis needs you here, Gladio," Ignis could be heard, strained but careful with his choice of words. "We all do."

"Here I've been givin' Prompto shit about upholding his duties, and I couldn't even hold my own against Ravus. The next time we've got our backs up against the wall, it's my job to protect. How am I supposed to do that if I can't even…" Gladio trailed off. "I'm a shitty Shield, as is."

"Hmph. You have a love for alliteration, but that doesn't make your words true. - Noctis is more vulnerable than ever."

"And you were able to keep him safe last night, right? Listen, Iggy. I know you got this. But I don't. You gotta let me do this, or my head isn't gonna be screwed on straight."

After a full minute of silence, Ignis sighed. "At least stay with us until we make it to Cape Caem."

Noctis didn't hear the rest. His mind drifted off back to sleep, not fully comprehending what he'd just heard. It wouldn't be until later that he'd remember it again, wondering if it was just some hazy dream.

"You've packed all the provisions?"

"Potions, ethers, and the dude at the counter even cut me a deal on a couple of elixirs. Check and check."

"All that's left is to wake up sleepin' beauty over there."

"Let him sleep, Gladiolus. He won't be much help in the state he's in."

The next time Noctis awoke, it took him all of five seconds to register that the curtains were drawn, and the morning sun was shining down on his face. Only a few seconds after that did his eyes focus, and he met the puffy stare of Prompto, stationed closest to the door, Ignis and Gladio to his right and left, their backs turned to the bed. The moment Noctis' eyes met Prompto's, the blond jerked his gaze down to the floor.

"C-Come to think of it, I probably should go check and make sure we settled up with the innkeeper."

Their eyes met again and this time, in a flourish of embarrassment, Noctis grabbed up the pillow next to him and rolled over, covering his face with it. "Geez, you guys are loud," he grumbled, purposefully drawing the attention of the others. "If you're planning on letting a guy sleep, you're doing a crappy job of it."

"See, Iggy? You coddle him too much," Gladio said, boots stomping across the floor. The next moment, Noctis felt the icy rush of cold as the covers were jerked off of him. "Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!"

"Fuck! Gladio, shove it up your ass!"

Cold, distraught, and entirely too vulnerable, Noctis took both of his pillows and slung them as hard as he could at Gladio, accidentally knocking over the clock on the nightstand in the process. It fell to the floor with a loud bang, startling Ignis, who jumped.

Prompto laughed at the spectacle - that was, until Noctis sent him the largest 'fuck you' expression he could muster. It was all he needed to send Prompto into a blushing fumble of apologies, excusing himself out of the room.

"What're you two looking at?" Noctis jeered, jerking himself out of bed. Both his Advisor and Shield gave him disapproving looks as he stormed to the bathroom and slammed the door. When he'd turned on the shower to drown out any muttering that might be heard through the door, Noctis slunk down to the floor and rubbed his swollen eyes.

Get ahold of yourself, he reprimanded. Iggy and Gladio are only gonna put up with your shit for so long. There was a knock on the door, and Noctis cleared his throat.

"Yeah?"

"I'm leaving you a change of clothes and a towel at the door." It was Ignis, ever the prepared soul.

"Uh...thanks." Noctis sighed, scrambling up and opening the door. Steam tumbled out, fogging Ignis' glasses quickly. "Sorry…"

"I don't believe I'm the one you should apologize to."

Noct's eyebrows furrowed. "No offence, Iggs, but you don't know what happened last night, so-"

"I know more than you think." The Advisor peered over the rim of his glasses, sharp and stern. "Believe me, Noctis. No one regrets the events of last night more than Prompto. I implore you to push your feelings aside for the time being and sort them out later. We have a long day's journey ahead of us, and the last thing any of us need is the two of you bickering."

"Yeah…"

The moment Ignis turned his back, Noctis shut the door. He didn't want Iggy to see the hot tears stream down the side of his cheek. He didn't need his friend to know just how broken he actually was.

"The empire came while you were gone."

The expression on Iris' face said it all; something had gone terribly wrong. As she stood in the middle of Lestallum's hotel, hand pressed against her chest, Iris had never looked more downtrodden.

"Perhaps we should...move this to a more private area," Ignis offered.

Prompto stood furthest away, near the staircase. His solemn face twisted at Noctis' heartstrings; the two hadn't spoken a word to each other the entire car ride to Lestallum.

"Let's go to your room," Gladio suggested, already guiding Iris toward the staircase. Noctis made sure to leave room between himself and Prompto, opting to climb last up the staircase. After congregating inside Iris' hotel room, Prompto took a seat on the edge of the bed while Iris sat in a chair next to the window. Gladio, Ignis, and Noctis stood, the three of them exchanging heavy glances.

"None of us said a word about Noct," Iris began, head hung low. "They just showed up and...poor Jared…"

Realization hit Noctis in the gut.

"What d'you mean? What happened to Jared?" Gladio burst out.

"There was nothing we could do!"

Noct could barely register his own feelings before the twist of the handle behind him shook him into reality. Before he knew it, he was staring into the soft, sad eyes of Talcott. His feet moved quicker than his mind, and he crouched in front of the boy, unsure if there was anything he could say that would begin to show his remorse. Still...he had to try.

"It's not right...We should have been here."

Tears streamed down Talcott's cheeks. "I...I couldn't stop them."

Of course he couldn't. He was just a boy - no older than when Noctis had visited Luna in Tenebrae. But there was something he had in common with the boy in front of him - they'd both experienced loss. Noctis thought back to the day he'd learned of his father's death. Prompto had held him; given him hope when there was none. Suddenly, his problems with Prompto felt so small in comparison...

He had to give Talcott hope.

"But I won't let the empire get away with it. They'll pay for what they've done." Every bit of conviction could be heard in Noctis' voice. "I promise."

"I...believe in you, Prince Noctis."

And then Talcott bowed; bowed through his tears, through his pain. Somehow, he still managed to find the cordial instinct necessary to bow.

It broke Noctis' heart clean in two.

The metal walkway rattled as Noctis' boots skid across the grating from the momentum of the warp. He spun around to where the others faced off against the woman who dropped down on them from a drop ship. She didn't give a name, only the tip of her lance pointed at the prince's head as she attacked. She was on an entirely different level than any of the other soldiers they encountered on the base. Who is she? Noct barely had time to pose a question before she was on him again, driving her weapon into the rickety structure and causing it to collapse.

Noctis managed to warp back to the others before being caught in the debris the woman sent flying every which way as she honed in on him. She thrust the lance at his chest, but Noct pulled his sword up to barely block. He gritted his teeth and, with a growl, as he pushed back against the woman with his spare hand on the back of the blade. Even while using that much strength, he couldn't force her to budge. Was she just that powerful? Or could it be the enormity and weight of the weapon lending her aide in damn near overcoming him?

Gladio heaved his giant sword over his head, aiming to cleave the enemy in half, but she darted back with the grace of a coeurl, dodging the sluggish attack. While Gladio held her attention, Noctis didn't waste the opportunity to change out weapons, wielding dual short swords as he left a cobalt after-image. The smaller weapons allowed for an increase in speed and mobility, which he used in an onslaught of hacking and slashing. Sparks flew off the weapons in a flurry of white fireworks every time the metals clashed together, disappearing as they scattered about the two fighting.

"She's too strong!" groaned Prompto from a distance.

"Shut up," Noctis growled. "Like I'd give her the satisfaction."

"The key is to focus!" Ignis shouted above the roar of the wind. "We have to work together!"

But the prince knew that was unlikely. Now, more than ever, their teamwork was stilted. Trust had fallen short, especially between Prompto and Noctis, and it showed through the fight.

Noctis stepped back and pivoted to his right, aiming for a blind spot in the woman's helm when a stray bullet whizzed past his ear, a few stray strands of hair flitting about. His gaze shot to Prompto, who looked back at him, eyebrows drawn up and lowering his gun. He opened his mouth, but the woman slammed her elbow into Noct's gut in a moment of lapsed attention, sending him reeling backward.

"Noct!" Gladio lunged forward, swinging his heavy sword through the air. It connected with the woman's lance in a succession of precise movements, giving Noctis enough time to sputter in a quick gulp of air.

"Are you alright?" the voice of Ignis could be heard above him, but Noctis' vision was too blurry to see. Damn, that woman could pack a punch.

"Never better," he mumbled irritably, thrusting out his arm. Ignis grabbed it and helped his friend to his feet, casually pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Ready to listen to strategy?"

Bam! Bam! Two stray bullets flew through the air, missing Ignis by mere inches.

Noctis narrowed his eyes. "Watch it, Prompto!"

"S-Sorry!" Prompto whimpered, darting toward them as Gladio continued to go toe-to-toe with the dragoon. "Shit, Iggy, you okay?"

"Never better," Ignis lulled, mocking Noctis' tone.

Noctis watched the way Prompto exhaled a sigh of relief. Anger boiled up inside of him. He knew this wasn't the time, but emotions had odd ways of showing themselves, and often at the most inopportune of times. "What the Hell were you thinking, Prompto?"

"Wuh?" Prompto blinked. "Dude, it was an accident."

"An accident that could have gotten Ignis shot! Or worse off!"

"Chill, man! I said I was sorry!"

"Sorry? Oh, you're sorry now? Would sorry have taken away the bullet hole in Ignis' chest?"

"For the love of Shiva, stop it you two!" Ignis scolded between them, conjuring an electrical sphere. "I'm fine, Noctis!"

"Seriously, dude, what's your deal?"

"My deal?" Noctis shoved Prompto in the shoulder. "How the Hell can you stand there acting like you don't know?"

"Gentlemen, this is NOT the TIME!" Ignis glared as Gladio was sent hurtling backwards onto his ass. "There are more pressing matters at hand!" Ignis threw the sphere through the air, but it did no good. The woman was already flying through the air, settling on a nearby platform.

Noctis was too busy arguing with Prompto to notice her punting the sphere back in their direction. Too busy to see it rolling toward his feet. Too busy to see Ignis until he sent Noctis and Prompto hurtling away with a shove of his arms, landing directly onto the sphere.

And that's when it went off.

Flesh sizzled. Ignis screamed. Literally screamed as electricity coursed through him. Noctis flinched, making to run to his friend's side, but something clamped around his arm and held him back. He realized it was Prompto digging his nails into Noctis' shoulder. Noct was forced to watch in horror as the electricity finally dissipated, leaving Ignis sputtering and gasping.

"Aww, is it that time already?" the woman catcalled from the top of a nearby building.

"What time?" Noctis muttered out, struggling against Prompto's surprising grip.

"Quitting time. Sorry, but this girl doesn't work after hours. I could, but there wouldn't be a single gil in it for me." She eyed Ignis playfully. "What a shocker, huh? Glad to see you didn't roast yourself too badly." Then she winked at Noctis. "We should play again sometime, pretty boy."

Needless to say, the car ride after was thick with tension. Despite the obvious first degree burns on Ignis' chest that singed through his clothing, two potions later the royal advisor was back to his normal self, but with quite a bit more salt in his attitude. In fact, he hadn't said a word to all three of them since they set off on their way to Cape Caem the next morning. Prompto was once again glad he could stow away in the front seat away from Noctis, especially since they had the company of Gladio's younger sister, Iris.

"Sooo…" she would say every few minutes or so, glancing between the four men in hopes to get them to talk about what happened when they'd left her back in the small town just outside of the fort they'd infiltrated. Only Prompto could muster up a smile as she caught his gaze in the rearview mirror.

"Uh, don't ask," he muttered quietly, jerking his gaze away as it caught Noctis' in the reflection.

Ignis didn't stop except to get gas and a quick cup of ebony. And no matter how hard Iris tried, none of the men could be budged into talking about their screw up during battle. Not even Gladio, who would reply with a harty gruff under his breath before returning to his book.

Occasionally, Prompto would snap a shot of the landscape. His camera felt like the only piece of familiarity these days. Noctis would hardly say a word to him except to snap off a quick comment, Gladio was tenser than normal, and Ignis...Ignis seemed the worst of all, glaring forward with his eyes on the road, not a hint of kindness etched in his brow.

It was true...they'd screwed up. Royally - pun intended. Noctis and Prompto arguing had caused Ignis serious injury, so Prompto didn't blame the advisor for being upset with them. But he'd never seen Iggy hold a grudge long. A selfish bit of Prompto hoped it wouldn't be much longer...Ignis' cooking was boss, and he couldn't imagine having to go without it.

At the thought of food, Prompto's stomach grumbled audibly, causing Iris to giggle in the back seat.

"Stomach's talking," she commented.

"Yup," he replied nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Say, Iggy. Think we could pull over and whip up some grub?"

Ignis tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, pensive. "We haven't that much longer to go. We will wait until we are to Cape Caem."

Everyone's face dropped, but no one argued the point. Sighing, Prompto opened the glove box, pulled out half a stale energy bar he'd stowed away earlier in the week, and nibbled tentatively.

"Anyone want some?" he offered but was met with silence. "Yeah...didn't think so."

"Noct - Noct! Wake up! We're here."

Noctis groaned, prying one eye open. "Lemme sleep, dammit."

"Like you don't get enough beautyrest?" A thick elbow jabbed him in the ribs. "Get up!"

"Uggghhh…" With all the force he could muster, the prince managed to open both eyes this time. After gaining his bearings, he pushed the car door open and barrelled out, catching himself before he fell to the ground. With a stumble, he stood straight, taking in the scenery.

Cape Caem. Noctis had heard stories from his father, but he never imagined he'd be standing here, witnessing it on his own for the first time without the king by his side. 'One day,' King Regis had promised him, 'You and I will fish there together. Just the two of us.'

Yet another never-to-be to add to the ever growing list which seemed to reach the floor these days. With a catlike stretch, Noctis shut the door to the Regalia and eyed the path that would lead them up to the lighthouse at the top of the hill.

"How you holdin' up?" It was Gladio, swinging his arms to stretch them. Next to him stood Iris, bright eyed and chipper. Noctis had to give it to her - she could fein a positive attitude, even in the worst of times. All of the Amicitias could. It helped, because Noct's usual ray of sunshine, fitted with blond hair and strolling up the gravel path, wasn't speaking to him. And really, could Noct blame him? He hadn't given Prompto an inch of reprieve since that night on the motel roof. The tension between them was suffocating, snuffing out Prompto's usually warm aura. It killed Noctis on the inside - who was Prompto without giving off that sunshine smile of his? Shame welled up inside of the prince as he realized he was the one putting out that flame.

Maybe he should try something. A small word. Something like 'hi'? Could he just do that after the mess that had been made between them?

All hopes of trying out the word died the moment Noctis spotted the familiar curves and yellow jacket of Cindy some ways off, waving them forward.

And it didn't help that the instant Prompto saw her, his face lit to life with the largest grin Noctis had seen in days.

With a sharp pain in his chest, Noctis followed Gladio and Iris up the path, trying not to notice the way Prompto shifted from one foot to the other as he chatted it up with Cindy. Noctis hadn't noticed before, but that stance...it was the same one Prompto used when he talked to Noctis.

Flirting. Prompto was flirting with Cindy.

And it made Noct's blood boil.

"Thanks for the ride," said Iris as they caught up with the rest of the party. "It was fun! I'm gonna go meet up with Talcott."

"Don't wander off too far," Gladio mumbled, ruffling his sister's hair but still managing to smile.

"You got it."

"How's the boat?" Noctis asked Cindy, crossing his arms.

"Paw Paw's tinkering away. Reckon' he'll be tinkering for some time," she replied cheerfully, unaware of how the very presence of her made Noctis' stomach turn.

"Trouble at sea?" inquired Ignis dutifully.

It didn't take reality long to set in again as the reminder of what their journey entailed smacked Noctis hard in the face. Luna...

"Seen her share, by the looks of her," said Cindy, ushering them on with a wave of her hand to follow. "Some parts we can fix, others need replacing."

Noctis tried, with difficulty, to pay attention as the conversation continued without him. For the first time since their fallout, he attempted to make eye contact with Prompto, but it was little use. Prompto had been conditioned in the short amount of time since their fight to avoid him at all costs, and so Noctis followed miserably behind everyone, trying to zone in on key words. He got the gist of it - the boat was in need of massive repair, and they would need to help fetch mythril if they wanted it up and running again.

"Paw Paw's down on the dock," Cindy stated when they arrived just short of the lighthouse. "Now, if ya'll'd excuse me, I'm gonna grab my tools and skedaddle. Got a garage to look after." She waved them off cheerfully as she started down the beaten path again, back the way they came. Gladio and Ignis kept walking, unaware that Prompto had stopped to take a picture of a nearby tree. Noctis flexed his fingers, causing the joints to pop and encouraging himself to say something to Prompto. Anything. He opened his mouth…

"Erm...Prompto?"

The finger on the shutter button of Prompto's camera lifted. Blue eyes met blue.

"Prince Noctis!" came a shout from the front porch of the house nearby, startling them both. It was Talcott, waving his arms frantically. "Hey! Our house is over here!"

Awkwardly, the pair glanced away from each other, embarrassed.

"You...wanted something?"

"I…" Noctis faltered, unable to think as panic struck him like a lightning bolt. He stood awkwardly, unsure of himself. The moment came and passed quickly.

"I'm, uh...gonna go see if Cindy needs help with her tools," Prompto muttered, and with a quick succession of trots, abandoned Noctis on the spot.

"Yeah, right," Noctis growled quietly, balling his fists in frustration. Damn it. Things used to be so easy when it came to Prompto. As easy as breathing! And now, any moment alone with him was like suffocating under a wave of new emotions and growing jealousy aimed toward Cindy.

Since when do I get jealous? Noctis scoffed inwardly, kicking a nearby rock so hard it went flying across the path. Since when am I into guys? He countered himself, eyes following Prompto down the trail.

That's when it hit him - was Prompto having second thoughts about being into guys? The thought sounded ridiculous, but he couldn't overlook the dorky way Prompto cocked his head while talking with Cindy, or the way he followed her around like a love-struck puppy. And there were those women in Lestallum...Prompto had been into them pretty hard before Noctis had crashed the party.

Maybe, no matter how much Prompto talked about enjoying both genders, he prefered a short skirt over Noctis any day of the week.

He'd convinced himself, for a moment, that Prompto's reasons were for something personal, be it shyness or a lack of interest in romance for whatever reason.

But so many things weighed heavily on the prince's heart today. Jared's death. Ignis' injuries. Gladio's talk about leaving...it was all adding up, and Noctis didn't think he could take it if he suddenly found Prompto in the back of Cindy's truck, doing things…

But he could stop it. He could put an end to that quicker than a warp strike.

Before Noctis could see reason above personal vendettas, he'd hiked down the path at a half-run, half-jog, just catching up to Prompto and Cindy as they loaded up the last of Cindy's tool kits.

"I gotta hand it to ya, Prompto," she said with a grin, "yer stronger than ya look."

"Thanks," he replied back, flexing his arms mockingly. "Gladio better watch out, or I'm gonna put him to shame soon."

"Don't let Gladio hear you say that," Noctis chimed in, stepping up between the two. He didn't know what he was doing exactly, but he knew he needed to keep a good distance between Cindy and Prompto, and that was a start.

"S'just a joke," Prompto muttered, leaning up against the truck.

"It's like Paw Paw always says," Cindy exclaimed, "It ain't about the size'a the tool. It's if it gets the job done." She shot him an encouraging wink, and Prompto turned a few shades darker in reply.

Noctis stood awkwardly, wondering how his arrival had somehow managed to cause more flirting. In a panic, he did the one thing that broke the universal bro-code: he attempted to flirt with his best friend's prospect in hopes of cockblocking. "Bet you know how to handle any tool at your disposal."

From the corner of his eye, Noctis caught the way Prompto's demeanor shifted. His shoulders straightened, and his arms crossed. High alert. That would have been the best way to describe the moment - and Noctis couldn't blame him. What the Hell had he been thinking? Noctis didn't even find Cindy remotely attractive…

"Well, ain't you just a bundle'a courage?" Cindy quipped back, seemingly impressed at Noctis' boldness. "Not to toot my own horn, but…" She winked.

"Beep beep?"

"You got it." Cindy rounded her truck and climbed into the front seat, peering out the rolled-down passenger window.

"Maybe you could teach me a thing or two." Well, thought Noctis miserably, I'm in it for the long haul. Might as well go for broke. At least Prompto and Cindy won't be...He didn't want to think about it.

"Cute," she noted, eyeing up the prince. "Ain't really my type, though. Catch you boys later." With a coy smirk, she rolled up the window and started the engine before reversing back onto the road. It wasn't until the car turned a corner and was out of sight before Noctis heard Prompto mutter under his breath.

"How about you focus on your duties instead of fooling around? You know, like a king would?"

Noctis spun on his heels, ready to confront Prompto's comment, but his friend was already a good ways away, jogging up the path toward the lighthouse.

What the Hell was that about? Prompto wondered as he climbed the hiking trail, anxious to get as far away from Noct as possible. Flirting with Cindy? Did he really just-? He stopped only once to calm himself, being on the verge of vomiting. Once he'd settled his stomach, he picked up the pace and looked for somewhere that Noctis wouldn't dare follow.

Big guy, three o'clock. He spotted Gladio leaning peacefully back on a bench just outside of the house where Talcott had called to them earlier. Already in more casual attire, it looked as if the Shield was lost in yet another book, though the way his eyebrows crinkled together suggested he might be lost in thought as well.

Unfamiliar with the rest of the place, Prompto approached Gladio and plopped down beside him on the bench, leaning in to get a better look. "Whatcha readin?" It was only after the question that he realized the small strings of earbuds tucked inside Gladio's inner ear, cutting him off from the rest of the world. The faint sound of drums and an electric guitar floated between them.

"Damn," Prompto mumbled, "coulda really used a pep-talk right about now." He didn't bother trying to shake Gladio out of it. When the big guy put in his earbuds, he meant to escape from the chatter of real life. No use bugging him now.

He'd just have to mull over Noctis on his own.

Fuck… "What the Hell's gotten into him now?" With a sigh, he leaned back against the splat of the bench, recalling Noctis' casual attempt at picking Cindy up. It had been so painstakingly obvious that Noct hadn't known what the Hell he was doing. Even more so, he'd looked taken aback when Cindy had countered him with a quip of her own, trapping him in his own idiocy.

But why would he do it in the first place? Wasn't the whole point of this journey to bring Noctis to Lady Lunafreya? Wasn't that one of the reasons Prompto had scattered off of the motel rooftop like a roach in light?

He didn't get an opportunity before he caught sight of Noctis a ways off, kicking his boots into the dirt and making a beeline for the bench where Prompto sat.

Shit. Hadn't he done enough already?

Prompto could hardly speculate before Noct opened his mouth, shut it, opened it again, shut it again, and took a seat on the other side of Gladio, sighing.

There was a pregnant pause as Prompto considered if he had anything to say. Any other time he'd tried to open his mouth, Noct had shut him down. Frustrated, confused, and hurt, Prompto stole a glance at Noctis before dropping his gaze to the bracelets around his own wrists.

Knowing Gladio wouldn't hear, he sneered, "Careful, big guy. Next thing you know, Noct'll be asking you how well you can handle your sword." His words were cutting, and they made Noctis visibly flinch. Good. "Maybe his bad pick up lines will work better on you. If your sister's anything to go off of, Amicitia's have a weakness for his baby blues."

The connotation of Noctis flirting with a guy seemed to wear under Noctis' skin - Prompto had no doubts that it was because he was the only one who truly knew that Noctis, underneath every bit of 'straight' undertones, would have kissed him on that roof if he'd let him.

"Cindy seemed to like them, too."

Their eyes met for the third time today, and it cut deep into Prompto's soul.

"Oh, no - wait, 're fine. I forget - he has a thing for blonds."

"I dunno, Gladio. I bet you could pull it off," Noctis quipped back.

Gladio grunted, and to anyone but Prompto, it would have seemed like a response.

Prompto peered around Gladio's stout frame and caught the fractured look on his best friend's face. There was something so apologetic in the way he scuffed his boots along the dirt beneath his heels and wrung his hands together. Without even questioning it, pity overtook Prompto.

It was always hard to stay mad at anyone for long - Noctis especially.

With a soft smirk, he reached into his vest pocket and untucked a small, yellow feather he'd procured from the day he'd taught Noct how to feed a chocobo. Then, he held it to Gladio's hair. "Nah, you'd look awful."

That's when he heard it; the tiniest of laughs escaped Noct's lips. He covered it quickly with a well placed yawn. It took everything in Prompto not to laugh himself.

"Yeah, I'm starting to think blonds aren't my flirty," Noctis said, giving a long stretch. "Like to lead a guy on and then - bam. Nothing." He used a purposeful glance to eradicate Prompto's heart; but then he remembered why he was upset with Noctis in the first place, and his mood dimmed.

"I'll be sure to tell Cindy you said that."

The tension built, and Noctis' mood soured as well. "Must be true what they say - chocobos of a feather flock together."

"Guess that means we're loyal."

"Obviously not, if you're flirting with everyone you come across."

Rage seethed inside Prompto. "Yeah, that's me.," he sneered quietly. "I mean, that's why I'm sitting next to the big guy, right? Just flirting it up!"

"I wouldn't doubt it if you were."

There was a beat. Prompto's knee bobbed up and down, and he dug his nails into his palms to keep himself from screaming. "You know what I like about you, Gladio? You do what you gotta do. It must always be such a pain in the ass to have to put up with a whining, self-centered little princess all the time. Moaning and groaning. 'It's too hot. It's too cold. I'll die if I eat veggies.' - Bet that's not what went through your head when you signed up for being the King's Shield. Kudos to you, big guy."

To his surprise, Noctis snorted, amused. "I think the only princess around here is the guy who screams like a girl when someone kicks a can."

"...That was one time," Prompto whispered, recalling the incident.

"Or when the lights shut off."

"It was a freaking CAVE."

"Or when a foot touches him in the water."

Without thinking, Prompto jerked up and pointed an accusing finger at the prince. "YOUR FOOT."

"Or that time when-"

"If this is about that freakin' snake lady, you know that shit was scary! I was kidnapped!"

Noctis smirked. "And you screamed. Like a princess."

Was he trying to get under Prompto's skin? Because it was working! "D'you mind, Noct? Gladio and I were in the middle of a conversation."

"Riiight, wouldn't want to ruin the ambiance." Noctis turned his head, sniffing the air. "Is something burning?"

There was the sounds of pots and pans banging, and a faint, "Damn it all!" could be heard from the house behind them.

Gladio lifted his head up, yanking the earbuds out of his ears. "Did you guys hear something?"

Noctis' jaw fell open. "Wait, have you been listening to music this whole time?"

The front door slammed open, and all three men jerked around to look over their shoulders. Stepping onto the porch, wearing a singed apron and holding a still-smoking skillet, was Ignis. His perfectly kempt hair now laid off kilter, bangs falling precariously over his eyes. Prompto had never considered Ignis sexy, but in the moment, all fuming rage and disgruntled appearance, the blond had to give Iggy props for sexual appeal.

The royal advisor stomped down the steps with a look of contempt written across his fine features. When he reached the bottom step, he slung the skillet across the lawn with the might of a behemoth, where it bounced off of a nearby tree trunk and skidded along the grass until it stopped just short of the bros' shoes.

Ignis inhaled slowly through his nostrils and exhaled through his mouth, trying to calm himself. After a moment, he leered in his companions' direction.

"Shit. What'd you two do now?" Gladio grumbled, slowly raising his ear buds back to his ears. To Prompto's surprise, he watched Ignis stomp across the yard and jerk the earbuds away right before they reached their destination.

"Are you all quite through?" Ignis snapped.

"Uh...Iggy? You okay?"

"As a matter of fact, Prompto - I'm not." His gaze rolled over Noctis and Gladio like a storm, but when his sights set on Prompto, he softened just a little. Still, he was stern as he continued, "I've just burnt my first meal since I was twelve. I am not, as you put it, 'okay'." With the huffiness of a disgruntled cactuar, he removed his glasses from his nose and began to polish them meticulously, as if that might absolve him of the anger he felt. "Listening to the two of you bicker is more than I can take. And you, Gladio, sitting there, pretending not to listen to it all…"

Gladio huffed impatiently, crossing his arms. "Ain't my business what these two idiots fight about."

"Not even when you and I are the ones to blame for why they might be fighting in the first place?" Ignis quipped back, giving a knowing stare in Prompto's direction. The blond tried to focus his sights on something - anything else, and found that the tree across the lawn, which now had an indention thanks to Ignis' frying pan, was a good enough target.

"Hmph," was Gladio's response.

"Indeed," Ignis muttered, focusing now on Noct. "I made a vow to the kingdom, to your father, and to myself that I would do my best to guide you to a bright and promising future as King. And up until recently, I thought I had adhered to those morals. But perhaps I've overstepped my boundaries." He glanced between Noctis and Prompto. "The two of you need each other. If our last battle is anything to reflect from, you've proven how ineffective you two are when you're at odds. And if we're to make it through this journey alive, we need you two focused. Listening to the two of you argue like school children on the playground through that window was enough to turn even my culinary skills to dirt. I can only imagine how it's eating away at you both. Talk to each other. - Noctis, I guarantee you, Prompto only has your best interests at heart. Stop acting like a toddler and express yourself so we all don't lose our heads. We can't afford for you two to be bickering, especially when we will be one man short continuing our journey."

"-Wait?" Prompto perked his head up, turning his head toward the other two.

Gladio sat stoic on the park bench, and Noctis' eyebrows stitched together as he eyed their larger counterpart.

"So you're really leaving us?" he asked.

"Yeah…" Gladio nodded soberly. "Gonna have to ask you to handle this boat business without me."

"Say wah?" exclaimed Prompto.

"Got some business of my own to deal with."

"Wait - you're not serious, are you?"

Noctis nodded once. "Do your thing. It's not like we could stop you anyway."

Gladio laughed, though there wasn't a trace of humor in it. "You know me too well."

"You're really leaving? Where?" Prompto demanded to know.

"That's for me to know, and you to mind your own business," Gladio smirked, patting him on the back. "So time to listen to Mama Ignis, quit fightin', and eat yer veggies like good boys."

"Ah, shuddup," Noctis rolled his eyes, but there was a faint hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips.

Prompto knew there would be much more salvaging between himself and Noctis. There was no doubt they would still need to have that infamous talk Iggy demanded of them...but for now, he knew he needed to show the others he could put the issues aside, if only for a moment. So, without thinking much on it, he reached over Gladio and jutted out his hand to Noctis.

Blue eyes met blue once again.

And for the first time in days, they smiled at one another.

Noctis took his hand and squeezed. "For Mama Ignis."

Prompto's heart fluttered in his chest, and a deep crimson crept up his neck and along his ears. Because, for all of the fighting and heartache since that night on the motel roof, it still didn't take away the burning desire in his heart when it came to Noctis Lucis Caelum.

And he knew that a part of him would trade any happy night in the future to go back to that night on the rooftop and kiss Noctis until they both saw stars.

If you'd like to leave a review, please do. I know they motivate the Hell outta me!
~MrB