To his credit, Prompto had called Noctis 'your Highness' the first few times he addressed him. That quickly gave way to 'Prince Noctis', then to 'Noctis' and finally the odd 'Noct'. It hadn't even been a conscious decision, either. It just... happened.
Prompto had never had a friend before. But back on the truck, in the heat of battle, he and Noctis just clicked. It felt like he had known him forever. That said, he wasn't foolish enough to believe that they were friends. Noctis was still the Prince of Lucis, after all. And Prom... well, he was just Prompto.
A shocked sound escaped him as Noctis welcomed him to the Crownsguard. Him? Prompto? A Niff? At first he was sure he had imagined it. But there was Noct, fist out, waiting. Wait... fist? That... that wasn't a handshake. That was..! Oh right! A smile crept onto Prompto's face as he bumped his fist against Noctis'.
Ignis had been on his way to the caravan when he stopped to observe the sight ahead. Prompto, dressed in Noctis' clothes. Wearing glasses. Looking far from a Niflheim enemy and more like a scared child. He couldn't remember the last time - if ever - he had seen Noctis so unguarded.
Noct had always been such a lonely child. Shy and withdrawn after the Marilith attack. Seeming aloof and standoffish in later years.
He had never really connected with his peers. Every day Ignis would pick him up hoping that he would have news of a new friend, to want to invite them over for video games or a meal. That never happened.
It was the fact that he knew Noctis was so lonely and withdrawn that he often let things slide, like a less than clean apartment or unfinished homework. The reason he often turned a blind eye to Noctis sleeping in or napping - unless there were important meetings or training, in which case Ignis had to be firm. He was sure sleeping was Noctis' coping strategy for a lot of things - lingering pain from the attack, loneliness, the weight of royal duty, depression.
If he removed all the external factors - that Insomnia had been attacked, that Prompto was a Niff, that the world was going to hell around them - and just focused on the two young men in front of him, then he could almost picture the friendship. However he couldn't just ignore the facts, it would go against every fibre of his being, against his every duty to Noctis.
He had to remain vigilant. To remain wary of this newcomer to their group. He adjusted his glasses and made his way over to the caravan.
"Gentleman. Gladio and the Marshal shall take first watch. I suggest the rest of us get some sleep while we can. But first, do bring me your soiled clothing so I can try to save it from staining."
Prompto almost jumped away from Noctis. He had forgotten that the Big Guy and Tall, Suave and Terrifying were there too. "Sir, yes sir!"
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Prompto had never had a friend before. But back on the truck, in the heat of battle, he and Noctis just clicked. It felt like he had known him forever. That said, he wasn't foolish enough to believe that they were friends. Noctis was still the Prince of Lucis, after all. And Prom... well, he was just Prompto.
A shocked sound escaped him as Noctis welcomed him to the Crownsguard. Him? Prompto? A Niff? At first he was sure he had imagined it. But there was Noct, fist out, waiting. Wait... fist? That... that wasn't a handshake. That was..! Oh right! A smile crept onto Prompto's face as he bumped his fist against Noctis'.
Ignis had been on his way to the caravan when he stopped to observe the sight ahead. Prompto, dressed in Noctis' clothes. Wearing glasses. Looking far from a Niflheim enemy and more like a scared child. He couldn't remember the last time - if ever - he had seen Noctis so unguarded.
Noct had always been such a lonely child. Shy and withdrawn after the Marilith attack. Seeming aloof and standoffish in later years.
He had never really connected with his peers. Every day Ignis would pick him up hoping that he would have news of a new friend, to want to invite them over for video games or a meal. That never happened.
It was the fact that he knew Noctis was so lonely and withdrawn that he often let things slide, like a less than clean apartment or unfinished homework. The reason he often turned a blind eye to Noctis sleeping in or napping - unless there were important meetings or training, in which case Ignis had to be firm. He was sure sleeping was Noctis' coping strategy for a lot of things - lingering pain from the attack, loneliness, the weight of royal duty, depression.
If he removed all the external factors - that Insomnia had been attacked, that Prompto was a Niff, that the world was going to hell around them - and just focused on the two young men in front of him, then he could almost picture the friendship. However he couldn't just ignore the facts, it would go against every fibre of his being, against his every duty to Noctis.
He had to remain vigilant. To remain wary of this newcomer to their group. He adjusted his glasses and made his way over to the caravan.
"Gentleman. Gladio and the Marshal shall take first watch. I suggest the rest of us get some sleep while we can. But first, do bring me your soiled clothing so I can try to save it from staining."
Prompto almost jumped away from Noctis. He had forgotten that the Big Guy and Tall, Suave and Terrifying were there too. "Sir, yes sir!"