The Scars We Carry

Untitled Part 3

   As Ignis left Prompto and joined the other men in the kitchen he leaned against the counter and let out a sigh with his head looking down. Noctis was looking at his noodles and picking through them a bit, trying to avoid the vegetables while Gladio did the same, but mostly because he was worried about the boy in the other room. "His injuries are not life-threatening." Ignis said breaking the silence between them. " he needs rest and maybe in the morning I'll see if I can convince him to see a doctor." He stated pinching the bridge of his nose. "is he going to be ok?" Noctis asked feeling he already knew the answer to the question. "Physically he will recover just fine, however," Ignis cleared his throat trying to think of the best way to put this in a way Noctis and Gladio could understand. "emotionally he might need some time, he hid this from us and I'm sure he was never going to tell us," as Ignis spoke just the thought of his best friend hurting for so long it made him sick. "I suggest after he wakes up wait until his injuries heal before asking him anything, the stress on his body wont help him heal," The shield nodded in agreement while Noctis just looked at his noodles not wanting to talk about it anymore.

Prompto was asleep for a few hours before he woke up. His body ached, but whatever he was lying on was soft so he didn't mind. the room itself was dark, but the faint glow of the digital clock on the wall read five am. It took everything out of him to sit himself up. A wave of nausea and pain swept over him as he sat up. He instantly recognized the prince's apartment once the room stopped spinning. He chuckled seeing it was still a bit of a mess knowing Ignis had said something. A sharp dry cough that cleared nothing, but managed to shake his chest came from him as he shifted himself to lean against the arm of the couch without straining himself. As soon as he did he felt a strong hand placed on his shoulder making him jump a bit. He turned his head to see Gladio. "You really should be resting," he said in a soft calming tone as he laid him down slowly back in his spot "I'll get you some water, it might help," Gladio said heading to the kitchen. His whole body was growing more painful as he started to become more aware of his body. As he waited Gladio came back with a glass of water in hand with a straw. "Hey, I know it's embarrassing and all, but do you mind if I hold the cup for you?" As Gladio asked this Prompto could feel his pride sink and disappear, not that he had much of that at the moment. " fine..." he said as Gladio held the straw up and helped him drink. As much as it pained him to admit Gladio was right in two ways, one being that the cool water would feel good against his bruised throat, two being that he wouldn't be able to hold the cup on his own seeing he was trembling just now from holding his head up."slow down kid, you'll make yourself sick." Following what the shield said he slowed his drinking until the soft sound of the end of the drink filled the quiet apartment. "Gladio if you're staying up for me I'll be ok if you sleep. I'm fine on my." before he could finish Gladio stopped him. "really Prompto?" Gladio said with a bit more of a serious tone in his voice. "You call me sounding hurt and as you're trying to tell me you're ok you start screaming and I hear someone hurting you," Gladio said taking a seat next to the blonde on the floor. "There is no way in hell any time soon I want you out of my sight," he said smiling at him trying to break the tension. "I was getting up anyways." Gladio chuckled grabbing the remote from the coffee table. "I just got back from a run anyways when I noticed you were awake," he said smiling at him. Shifting his body so he was leaning against the couch Gladio turned on some romance drama. After a few minutes, Prompto felt his eyes grow heavy and fell slowly back asleep.

It didn't take long for the shield to notice that Prompto had fallen back asleep, and honestly, he knew the kid needed it. Ignis woke up around six-thirty. He took a spot in Noctis's room next to him on the bed, seeing that he had done it before when they were children. As he made his way out he saw Gladio on the floor watching TV. "See you've made yourself at home," Ignis said softly in a teasing tone trying not to wake Prompto. Gladio smiled not taking his eyes off the TV. "well, he woke up when I got back on my run and got him some water," he said looking back at Ignis. "Not much else though, he felt kinda warm though so I thought I'd stay close just in case," Gladio said as Ignis crossed the room and placed a hand on the blonde's brow, and moved it to cup his cheek. "he does feel a little warm, I'll get the thermometer from the first aid kit," He said as he slowly pushed some hair out of the teens face. "So, did he say anything when he was awake?" Ignis asked as he crossed the room to the first aid kit and started rummaging through it. "Not really," Gladio hummed as he watched Ignis for a moment. "Didn't seem like he was in the mood for talking, well except telling me not to worry about him," He added closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Like hell Iggs, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend what happened last night didn't happen," Gladio growled as he clenched his fist. "I know you're upset Gladio and there is a lot going through our heads, but as hard as it is going to be I need everyone to remain calm and we'll talk this out when the time is right," Nodding in agreement Gladio watched as Ignis got the digital thermometer and went to the couch. Clicking the button he scanned Prompto's forehead and hummed in response. "thirty-seven point two..." He sighed and went into the kitchen "Not a bad fever, but it's still not a good thing..." Ignis said and returned with a washcloth which he placed on Promptos head.

It was about eight when the prince of sleep woke up, not that this was a good example of his given nickname. He set an alarm on his phone so he could be awake for his friend. At first, he was going to snooze it, but once his brain remembered the night before he quickly jumped out of bed and hurried into the living room where the three men were waiting. Prompto was awake and had another cup of water, but this time he was holding it weakly in his left hand seeing his right wrist was broken. "Hey Prom," Noctis said forcing a smile on his face, and sat next to the teen on the couch. The force of Noctis plopping on the couch made Prompto's stomach flip and his grip on the cup tightened. "Breathe Prompto It's ok, follow my breathing," Ignis said placing a hand on his shoulder only to be pushed off by Prompto. "I'm fine.." he said sharply. Prompto hated the attention and the way they were treating him like he was a child. "Iggy was only trying to help.." Gladio said crossing his arms. "Yeah Prom, we're just worried about you," Noctis added. He didn't need help. Prompto thought holding himself. He had dealt with his father for seventeen years all alone and now was no different. yes, he was grateful that they came when they did, but he could just be in his shed asleep right now, but no he had to interrupt the lives of his friends for something that wasn't that big of a deal. "sorry, I'm just not worth all of this ok," he said letting Gladio take the cup from him. "what do you mean love?" Ignis asked kneeling down to his level. "I'm not royalty, and I wasn't born to do great things.." he said as he felt a lump in his throat. "I knew as soon as we graduated and we didn't have to see each other every day that we would grow apart from how busy you would be," he was practically choking out words fighting back sobs and his bruised throat. He wasn't even sure if they could understand what he was saying, but he didn't care. "and even if I did join I'm not strong enough to be as great as Gladio, or as smart as Ignis to even be by your side."

The others were quiet as they listened to Prompto. Even though they felt different from what he said they knew he had to speak his mind. That what he had been saying is valid and that he need to speak it out. However, what he said upset Noctis. He never treated Prompto like he was inferior, never once did he treat him any different than humans, and hearing him say these things made his fist clench. After a bit, Prompto got settled onto the couch and was slowly falling back asleep before Ignis could finish breakfast, but that wasn't a surprise to anyone seeing he was exhausted and recovering. As Ignis was in the kitchen cooking Noctis came in and sat on the counter and let out a sigh. "something on your mind Noct?" Ignis asked not taking his eyes off the dish. "That shit Prom said, WHy would he even think that shit!" he shouted and crossed his arms "Does he think that low of me? of us?" he asked fighting back his frustration. "Honestly Noct," Ignis said lifting a spoon up to the prince's lips for him to taste. "Prompto's feelings have nothing to do with how we treated him over the years," he said as Noctis stated the food nodding. "I believe that it's more about his own insecurities with himself and how he's been treated all these years," he added and he tasted the food himself. What Ignis said made a bit more sense to the prince, but it still made him angry to think Prompto would think they would abandon him. Just as Noctis went to open his mouth to ask a question Ignis spoke up. "Once he wakes up again we'll have a conversation, but now let's eat and calm our emotions before then,"