Night Light {FFXV/OT4}

A Promise To Keep

Chapter Twelve: A Promise To Keep

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Prompto was sure the throbbing, rushing sound he was hearing was his heart pounding. Either that, or all his blood was rushing to his head for no good reason and he was about to die. Perhaps that would be for the best he mused, as Noctis continued to half drag him over to the campfire.

All eyes were on him, Regis walking leisurely beside him with a smile on his face, as if he couldn't tell how terrified Prompto was. The gunner wasn't sure if that smile was intended to be scary, but that was certainly how it looked to him. Ignis, Gladio and Clarus Amicitia were seated around the campfire, having paused in their conversation as Prompto finally emerged from his hiding place. Ignis sent the blonde a reassuring smile, a can of Ebony clasped in his hands. Gladiolus looked impassive for the most part, whilst his father was staring at Prompto through eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Prompto reminded himself, as he was pushed into his seat by the Prince, that he didn't need to be scared. He was a human, that's what Noct had told him. He was more than just a product of the empire: he was a person. He hadn't believed it at first, had instinctively rejected the very idea, but Noctis had repeated it so many times that Prompto was finally starting to believe it to be true. It had to be.

"So, Prompto. It's nice to finally meet you"

The blonde bit his lip at just the words, sat rigid in his seat. Despite the little pep talk he'd given himself he was still terrified. It really didn't help that the King was staring right at him. Although Prompto noticed that the smile on the man's face was a little warmer now, less unsettling. That was nice.

"Uh, yeah. Your majesty. N-nice to meet you"

Prompto didn't miss the surreptitious thumbs up Noctis shot him, the sight calming his nerves a little. So he was doing good? He still felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest and he was uncomfortably hot under his clothes, but at least he hadn't messed up yet.

"Tell me, Prompto.. are you nervous?"

The heat suddenly turned to ice, a cold jolt that shot through him at the King's words. Well, he certainly hadn't been expecting such a direct question. Deciding to answer truthfully he nodded, looking up at King Regis through red eyes, irises ringed by a touch of blue. "A little, your majesty"

Regis laughed at that, clapping the boy on the back with a surprisingly large amount of force. Prompto thought it was a miracle he didn't fall off of his chair entirely. "Don't be, I'm not going to bite! We're all friends here after all"

Noctis cut in there, sending a half glare at his father. "Dad! Just because he's my friend doesn't make him yours too! That's not how it works."

Regis chuckled at that and waved his son's complaints away, and just like that the tension was broken. Prompto felt himself relax like he was a marionette who's strings had been cut, body sinking into the chair as his muscles finally unwound. He even let a smile touch his face at the comfortable banter between Noctis and the King, finding it quite amusing.

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"So Prompto, how long are you planning to travel with my son for?"

The blonde looked up at the question, having happily settled into listening to the conversation going on around him and not really participating in it himself. But he supposed he had to talk now, sitting up a little straighter as all eyes were back on him again.

"Well..as long as I'm allowed to, your Majesty.." a hush fell between the six men seated round the campfire. The topic of whether or not Prompto could remain by the Prince's side had finally been raised.

Prompto felt his stomach lurch and he prayed he wasn't about to throw up. The silence stretched, Regis just sitting there with a thoughtful look on his face. After a few moments of rising tension Noctis stood up and walked over to his friend. He placed his hands on the blonde's shoulders, crouching down so they were level, looking right into Prompto's eyes.

"Listen, buddy... you're always going to be allowed to travel with us, okay? I'm not gonna kick you out. You're always gonna be welcome here. Understand?"
After a moment of simply sitting, stunned, Prompto nodded wordlessly. He wiped at his eyes as he felt the hot sting of tears there, despite the smile growing on his face. He knew it was stupid; he shouldn't be crying. He was just so happy, so relieved, and the emotions were overwhelming him.

"T-thank you Noct. Thank you so much." Prompto felt a blush creep onto his face, spreading up to his ears and down his neck as Noctis pulled him into a tight hug, seemingly uncaring that the King himself was watching.

Prompto shut his eyes against the prying gazes, and instead just focused on the Prince. Noctis' arms around him, his warmth and the heartfelt promise whispered in his ear: 'I'll never send you away'.

-

Dinner ended many hours later. Ignis had bought out his signature dish Lasagna Al Forno, each bowl carefully tailored to the preferences of the one who was to eat it.

Noctis' included no Cleigne Darkshell, due to the Prince's utter hatred of anything green. Usually Ignis would leave them in, but he wasn't about to argue with his charge over such a trivial thing as vegetables, not in the presence of the King at least. Gladio's Jabberwock Sirloin had been cooked a full half hour less than the others, and Prompto's had extra glaze. Ignis had quickly discovered that the blonde had a love for sweet things, and made sure to accommodate that love into his cooking where possible.

Even hours after the steaks were finished -"they were wonderful my boy, truly delectable. If I hadn't appointed you advisor, I would have made you a royal chef"- the group was still chattering away, Regis eager to hear the rest of Noctis' recounts. Noctis was happy to tell, Gladio cutting in every now and then to add a few extra details. Noct was certainly more talkative than Prompto had ever seen him before. Even if the Prince had hidden it at first, it was clear that he was happy to see his father again.

Prompto found himself smiling at the thought, deciding this really wasn't all that bad. He'd been terrified at first, but Regis didn't seem intent on killing him or sending him away. He thanked the Astrals for that: he had no life outside of Noctis and his retainers that didn't involve going back to the Empire. He didn't want that, he'd decided many weeks ago. He wouldn't go back there, not unless Noctis sent him away or didn't want him around anymore.

He looked at Noctis' smiling face, blue eyes swimming in the light of the campfire. Perfect lips, that so easily spilt promises of friendship and safety and love. Prompto was confident then, that his fears would never become a reality. The Prince would keep him around, just like he'd promised. Ignis, Gladiolus, Noctis. They'd look after him, offer him companionship. They'd be his friends, even though no one else would. The thought made his chest burn, with a deep rooted happiness he'd never felt before: he was one of them now.

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Notes: A happy chapter! ( ＾∀＾)