It Doesn't Matter (Prompto Argentum x Reader)

6

In the end, I ended up not asking all those questions. I don't think it's the right time or place. Plus, I didn't want to ruin the setting. Prompto had just cared for me and started to act more like himself... For now at least. But, I know that I'll have to voice them up sooner or later.

I wake to Prompto gently shaking me.

"(y/n), wake up. It's morning," he whispers. I try profusely to open my eyes, but the bright light shining into the cave makes it painful and almost impossible. I groan as I try to turn around on my other side. However, as soon as I do, a fierce pain electrifies my arm. "AH!" I cry out as I swiftly lay on my back and hold my bandaged arm.

...I completely forgot about that...

From looking at it, it still bled quite a lot from last night, despite Prompto doing a good job stitching up the wound. Looks like we might need to apply a new bandage soon. Hopefully, we won't need to go through the stitching process again... That was awful.

"Whoa, Whoa! Careful, your arm's still hurt," Prompto warns me. I let out a grunting whimper as I strain myself to sit up. The blonde boy next to me is quick to come to my aid, putting his hand on my back gently and tenderly pushing me up. Again... I can't help but blush at the contact.

"Here. I have something that might help."

As soon as I'm fully up, Prompto then reaches over and grabs a small bowl that's been over the fire. He blows elaborately over the steaming contents within it.

"What's that?" I ask.

"It's soup," he explains. "I put special herbs in it. Hopefully, they help with the pain."

"Oh."

Prompto hands me the bowl and after muttering a thank you, I start to slowly drink the hot, brothy liquid. It tastes like a mixture of chicken-noodle soup and dill. The soup itself is very rich, yet thin and easily glides down my throat. I can feel it seeping down my chest and into my stomach, warming me up with its toasty temperature.

"How is it?" Prompto asks, the tiniest bit of worry resting on his features. I take a short, albeit satisfied sigh as I finish it off and brush my sleeve over my lips.

"It was pretty good," I answer in a semi-cheerful voice, trying to get normal Prompto out. It seems to work as his expression instantly turns somewhat gleeful-his pale lips turn upward in a tiny smile and the small frown between his brows vanishes.

"Great!" He then ruffles through his bag, grabs a large steel water bottle, and leans it over to me with an outstretched arm. "Here. Something to keep you hydrated."

I say a thank you as I take it and pop open the lid. The content is so cold, a small amount of mist seeps out. It's the complete opposite of the soup I just consumed. I drink graciously. It's indeed water. The temperature is icy enough to instantly turn my mouth and throat from cozy warm to frigid frost. I'm nearly done half the bottle before I take a breath; a deep, satisfied, breath.

"Whoa... If I knew you were this thirsty, I would have snagged some more."

My eyes, which were closed to concentrate on my breathing, are now open and looking right into Prompto's. After a brief pause, his baby-blue orbs expand as if he had just realized something.

Then I realize something.

I glance at the bag beside Prompto. Now that I think about it... that bag wasn't in the cave when we-- when I-- first got here. My vision flicks to the blonde. I cut him off just before he's about to try and change the conversation.

"Where did you get that bag?" I ask in the sternest voice I can utter. Man, do I ever sound like a mother. I can see why Prompto told me I was like a sister to him...

He stutters a couple of times before he's able to respond properly. "I-I-I... I had it here with me the whole time! I swear!" Prompto scratches the back of his head and avoids eye contact with me, staring into the mouth of the cave.

He sucks at lying.

"Prompto..." I say in the same tone as the previous sentence I said. He continues to make awkward noises that don't form into words.

It hits me hard.

"Please don't tell me you went back to the labs...?"

Prompto's eyes finally find mine again. He huffs heavily and drops his head down in surrender.

"Yeah, I did," he admits bluntly and in defeat.

Anger starts to boil my blood. I can't believe this! I start to shout at him for his stupidity.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW-"

"OKAY, OKAY! I know it was stupid and reckless, but I only had food for one person! Plus, you barely had any in your bag. I had to, (y/n)!" Prompto defends, putting his arms midway in the air as if he's having a gun pointed at him.

"Did I ask you to go and do something so stupid?!"

"I... I just wanted to make sure that you..." His whole body slumps, his head down like he's a child being berated by his parents for doing something wrong. At the sight, I stop my silly rant and finally realize what I have just said and done. A bucket load of regret starts to seep into my chest.

"Uh... I'm sorry," I say, leaning forward to hug him. "I'm being a jerk. I'm so sorry. Forget what I just said. I'm not mad at you or anything. It's just that I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

After my little apology, I feel Prompto's body perk up a little and his arms slowly wrap around my torso.

...Of course, my cheeks start to heat up.

"It's okay, I understand. I would have done the same thing to you if our situation was reversed," the boy replies. We stay in an embrace for a few moments before breaking apart. There's a small smile resting on his freckled face. "Plus, you know I couldn't leave one of my best friends hangin'."

I smile back.

"I know."

-

Though it's still midday, we lit a fire because of how cold it is outside and Prompto insisted that both of us rest for the day. I can tell that he's out here to find something. I'm not sure what. I did ask him, but, of course, he changed the conversation immediately afterward. Despite the curiosity clawing at me, I still think it's not the right time. Maybe after we get out of this place, I can hound him down.

"So... How are the guys doing?" Prompto asks me, placing a thin branch into the fire.

"They're doing fine," I tell him. "They're really worried about you. Noct especially. They did try to stop me when I told them I was going to try and find you. But, they ultimately let me go on the condition that I came back with you and I both alive." I chuckle at the last part. He follows suit. It's so good to hear his laugh again.

"...So, they're really worried about me?"

I look over at him. His voice is almost a whisper and his blue eyes are downcast into the fire, making them glow and flicker with the flames.

"Yeah, of course, they are. Why wouldn't they be? They're your friends."

Prompto then lifts up his eyes to meet mine. I raise an eyebrow to silently ask him why.

"Um... it's nothing."

Again, he really sucks at lying.

"Prompto... Is there something you want to talk about?" As soon as that question leaves my lips, Prompto immediately gets up off the ground and fakes a smile.

"Huh... No, no. Like I said everything's fine!" he says hesitantly, but brings out a more cheerful tone. "Besides, it's not me you should be worrying about right now." He points to my arm. I look down.

Why does he avoid this? ...Surely nothing, or at least a large portion, of what Ardyn and Aranea said was in fact true. Aranea I feel like I can trust, but definitely not the Chancellor. I look back up at Prompto. He's bringing more branches for the fire.

Again, I decide to keep to myself about what I've been told by others. Perhaps he's just not ready to open up about it. Maybe he'll bring up the conversation on his own when he's ready to talk. 

...But when will that be?