#morethanabarcode

@morethanabarcode | Scourge Prince | From here

She had expected as much, the man’s response was unsurprising considering how much of the scourge she could sense within him. “I’m not dying because it’s my duty, I’m not dying because I was told to. I’m willing to die to save the people of this planet from the Scourge. Are you willing to die just to kill others? Because if I know Noctis, he would try his best to save you from what they’ve put into you, instead of kill you and perhaps allowing it to spread.”

Lunafreya reached out and ruffled Pryna’s fur, then stood again and laid a hand lightly on the Prince’s head, magic surging from her fingers. He was too close to losing, and she couldn’t have that. Only a small amount, just to ease the current pain, and then she walked away.

Pryna whined after her, staying in front of the Prince. Lunafreya didn’t call for her, she knew the dog would come when she was ready, she certainly wouldn’t get killed by MTs. The dog stayed and gave the Prince comforting licks, trying to help him be less upset.

Lunafreya walked out the way she’d come in, wary of guards, but thankfully not needing Pryna’s guidance as most of the MTs were doing as the Prince had commanded. It was getting past them now patrolling the outside that she would have had trouble with, if Noctis and company hadn’t shown up.

espresso and harvest.

“I smell like espresso? But, I don’t even drink the stuff.” Nyx is confused.

Gladiolus stood there a nervous wreck, he couldn’t fathom how bad off his usually nervous soon-to-be-spouse was. He only realized that Prompto was late, to their own wedding, after people began murmuring about it behind him. He turned and gave Ignis a panicked look, but the man remained calm and simply nodded his head in the direction of the doors that had just opened. His head whipped around and his heart caught in his throat.

He watched as Noctis helped Prompto to his feet, the blonde obviously unsteady and panicking. He looked amazing though and suddenly Gladiolus just wanted the ceremony to be over so he could take that suit off of his husband piece by piece...

Ignis simply stared at him through his confusing explanation, registering the only thing of importance, that Prompto loved him and didn’t want him to leave. With a gusty sigh he reached over and gently lifted Prompto’s face to meet his own, his lips moving slowly over the blonde’s.

He pulled back and smiled at him, “Let’s try this again, shall we?”

Noctis’ shout followed him out the door, “Fine! Leave!”

He was so angry that he couldn’t think straight, and really, hadn’t even realized he had told Prompto that he hated him of all things. The reality couldn’t be more opposed. He twitched a bit, recalling Prompto’s face going pale and the resentment that entered his beautiful eyes. Then Gladiolus was off chasing after, that was fitting, the stupid fuck was supposed to be HIS shield, but he was always off protecting Prompto instead. Fine! Prom could have him!

Steam was nearly boiling out of his ears and his heart hurt. The slap to his face jolted him and he blinked stupidly at Ignis’ angry face for far longer than he should have, the man slapped him again.

“Hey! What the hell Ignis!?”

“You will go out there and find Prompto and apologize. Honestly, telling him you hate him over who gets to drive tomorrow. Are you bloody kidding me? Grow the hell up Noct. He’s your best friend, the only one of us not actually tasked with your goddamned protection. He’s here because you asked him to come and because he loves you. You will fix this. Or so help me, I will shove every vegetable on the planet down your throat!”

Ignis had never yelled at him like this before, sure he’d been upset with him before, even beyond pissed off, but usually he gave him the silent treatment for it. Again though, usually, he hadn’t just sent his best friend crying into the streets of an unknown city.

*whispers* rip my muse. but worth it

     🗡️𝓖𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓷 hues watched Prompto carefully. He knew his words had come out harsh, which wasn’t what he intended. Well, not precisely. Things had moved far too fast. From their first kiss being an accident, to suddenly ending up tangled around one another to saying ‘I love you’ nearly two weeks after they started this... Ignis adored Prompto, there was no question about that, but love was a word he felt he had thrown around too easily. He loved Prompto as a friend... but did he truly feel so deeply about him he would say “I love you” in the sense of ‘I will stay by your side for ever’?

     𝓘𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓼 wasn’t sure. This had progressed far too quickly and now he wanted to take a step back, to look at things from the bigger picture. The adviser was not used to letting his heart lead, and he had a feeling that was why they ended up where they were now. A mistake he was sure to never make again. The mind was to be in control at all times. No matter what. 

     "𝓝𝓸𝓽... exactly, Prompto..” Be easy with him. He’s fragile. Ignis tried reminding himself. That was half the reason he hadn’t wanted to go through this in the first place. He didn’t want to see Prompto break. He didn’t know if he could. And with them being on the road, he would most certainly see him break. 

     𝓗𝓮 let out a soft sigh, trying to find a way to word this before he finally turned his gaze away. “What has progressed between me and you has moved at a pace I am not entirely comfortable with. I feel as though I have no handle on where this is going.” And that was unacceptable. 

The prince sighed then placed his hands on the hips. Looking at the blond while he was speaking and he could tell his friend was lying. He shook his head twice. “No, Prompto, you need more than the ice to treat that bruise of yours.”

Noctis was fully aware that Prompto’s coverup stories were to prevent him from worrying but it always ends up the opposite way. His worries would just increase tenfold. Further, by having a closer look at the blackened skin of the photographer made him assume it was no ordinary accident that happened.

He ran to block Prompto’s way and confront the other whose hands were shaking. To put ease to his troubled friend, he gripped the hands of the blond with his own pair and uttered, “You don’t need to hide it. I’m here to listen. Just let me help you.”