Angels Carried Us Away (Prompto x Noctis)

half truths vs half lies

The boy woke up with a stinging headache and a burning sensation in his eyes, his heart still racing from the nightmare. He didn't want to open his eyes, afraid of what he would see if he did. He pressed them closed tight to avoid opening them by mistake, and wondered whether he was really awake or asleep.

After that first thought, his sleepy consciousness started to detect other things. His neck ached in a very particular way, sore and throbbing he'd felt this many too times and knew it only got like that when it was bent in an awkward position. The right side of his face was plastered against something slightly cold and smooth-glass, maybe?- and light vibrations rocked his body gently from time to time. His bum rested on top of some sort of seat that was really soft and comfortable. So he was sitting. The question was, where was he sitting exactly?

Curiosity made him want to see where he was, open his eyes, but a deep fear inside prevented him from doing it. It was like the primal fear of the prey that kept it from wandering too far. Something was not right.

He shifted a bit.

"You're finally awake"

Unexpectedly, someone spoke.

Prompto's eyes flew open immediately, his back collided hard with the door from the surprised jump he made. The seat belt was too close for comfort to his neck but he didn't care enough to do something about it. There were things more important happening right now.

It was Cor Leonis who talked, face severe and too many frown lines on it for his age. For a second, Prompto forgot why he had been scared in the first place, remembering the true smile the man had given him and his kind voice apologizing for having scared him, introducing himself. That was ruined however, when the other memories resurfaced (screaming, shaking, was that his voice, what was going on, let me go!, I don't know, I don't know, don't touch me) and a chill descended down his spine. Oh no.

"No" he said out loud. He couldn't stop it, it was natural. Without really thinking about it, his hand moved to the door handle and tried to pull it with all his strength, as little as he had.

He had to get out of that car!

"Could you please not do that?" The man said calmly, his eyes never straying from the road ahead.

Prompto ignored him and continued his failed attempt at escaping for as long as he was able, in hopes that sooner or later the door would yield and he would-he would what? The boy froze momentarily, his gaze on his hand over the handle.

"I..."the royal guard, taking advantage of the moment of tranquility, began again "I am terribly sorry, Prompto, was it?"

Despite his wariness and panic that thrummed furiously in his chest, despite the little voice in his brain telling him to get away from him, the boy found himself listening intently, turning slightly in the man's direction. He said nothing, fingers itching on top of the handle.

Seeing he now had the blond's attention, he continued "You'll come to see I am not exactly well versed in apologies but if nothing else you certainly deserve one. I... don't know what came over me then. It is not like me to act in such a barbaric manner, especially to a child. You must think I'm a monster with how I treated you" His icy blues looked briefly at Prompto, who still said nothing.

"I can't explain exactly why..." he drifted off, shook his head "...Again, I'm deeply ashamed of what I've done and how I acted, but I know that no amount of simple apologies is enough, words are just words until proven true. I thought that if I at least-" Cor stopped, reached for something in the backpack at his feet.

Prompto, conflicted, watched him pull that thing, whatever it was, from it. He was offered the object and he had to blink twice to realize it was a paper bag. A delicious smell came off from the bag and his stomach whined in recognition, his mouth watered instantaneously.