Mistaken

Chapter 5: Findings

Getting out of the cottage just after lunch had Prompto singing in glee inside. It wasn't that the conversation bored him - it was quite the opposite really. But the longer he stayed in that room with you there, the more suffocated he felt. Everything pent up from the past four or so years was threatening to escape. From the sympathetic expressions and the subtle hints of a secret known only to the residents of Meldacio, to the small exchanges with you for the past few hours were starting to get to Prompto. He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not. Feeling completely unprepared for what awaited him had the gunslinger lose his appetite, despite his stomach rumbling as they exited the cottage.

After lunch, Ignis suggested they visit Vesperpool for a change of scenery. Prompto welcomed the idea with open arms, only to realize this provided the group great opportunity to discuss more private matters. The moment they entered the car and drove off, Gladio had already begun the conversation.

"Goddamn I didn't know (Your Name) was so thorough," Gladio sounded like he was completely blown out of the water, "No wonder His Majesty sent her out on this mission,"

"I would have to agree with you. The quality of information (Your Name) provided was extensive, as it was informative," Ignis joined in, not hiding how impressed he was.

"Usually you're one to ask a million questions Specs," Noctis pointed out, amused by it all, "I'd say it's quite the surprise you hardly asked any this morning," Noctis was quite smug about this. Prompto didn't blame him, he was proud as well seeing you thriving in your line of work. Not to say it was like watching a completely different person - you were just being professional.

"I found it rather amusing that she knew Dave, Noct and Prompto's coffee preferences though," You just HAD to point that out, big guy. Of all things...

"If you are going down that line of thinking, perhaps we should ask the decor expert," Noctis smirked, "Since a certain blonde-haired, camera-loving person had his mind elsewhere while looking at the room or (Your Name)," Right now, you are definitely my least favorite person.

"It was the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of what (Your Name)'s life has been like in the past few years," Ignis' input was greatly appreciated.

"Let's swap findings then. I'm rather curious what you found blondie," Gladio proposed.

"Findings? You had time to look around during (Your Name)'s mini-seminar?" Noctis sounded amused by this.

"Can't deny a pretty girl an audience when she's speaking so proudly and passionately," Gladio had a gift in charming the opposite sex. It was a characteristic of his that Iris often worried would land her older brother in trouble one day. In this case, Prompto felt his blood boil from the way Gladio described you and the intrigued tone of his voice.

"If that's the case," Prompto knew he sounded sour but given his dissatisfaction with Gladio's words, he really couldn't care less, "Did you notice the blank spaces on the walls?"

"Blank spaces?" Gladio sounded a little confused from behind him.

"He means the outlines of photo frames that should have been on the wall," Noctis further explained. Prompto could tell from the whisper of a chuckle from Ignis as he drove, that it was quite obvious he didn't like how Gladio spoke of you.

"Yeah, that did look a bit off. It's like the place had been broken into and they only took the photos huh?" Gladio sounded a little too happy. Are you trying to get on my nerves? "Another thing that looked massively out of place was the stuffed chocobo toy on the couch by the window. It looked pretty well loved if you ask me," Gladio shared.

"Unless it was given to her by..." Prompto saw Ignis glance at him when the royal advisor didn't finish his sentence.

"If you're all wondering, I have given her a chocobo stuffed toy before. I can't imagine she'd bring such a thing with her on a mission though. Especially since we broke up roughly around the time she was dispatched," Prompto answered, earning a nod of acknowledgment from Ignis. Turning to look at Ignis carefully, Prompto saw a wave of shock wash over their driver. "Ignis. Please share what you just thought of," Prompto asked, hearing the two sitting in the back move forward in their seats to listen in.