Life is good Prompto thought as he grabbed another chip out of the bag between himself and his best friend, Prince Noctis.  The two had spent the last six hours holed up in Noct’s amazing apartment, eating chips and playing video games together and later Prompto was going out with his new girlfriend.  His GIRLFRIEND!  Life really was great!

“Dude, did you see that move?  It was epic!  Quick Noct, take my pic next to the screen, I gotta send this to Milla.” “Prom, you’re going to scare her away,” Noctis said with a roll of his deep blue eyes. “Naw, she’s, like, amazing.  Total gamer girl, she even kicked my ass in Destiny.  Just, gah!”  Prompto grabbed the phone and checked the picture Noctis took.  “She’s so perfect,” he sighed dreamily. Noctis snorted.  “You’ve touched her, right?  Sure she’s not your soulmate?” “Yeah, I’m sure.  But soulmates are like, super rare, right?  She can still be perfect even if we’re not soul bound.  No biggie.  I don’t know anyone in real life who, ya know, actually has one.” “Dad and mom were soul bound,” Noct quietly announced, setting down his phone and turning to the window.  Prompto looked over in surprise, Noct barely talked about his dad and never spoke of his mother.

Noctis’ thoughts went to that night back when he was sixteen, it had been the anniversary of his mother’s death and he was angry.  Angry at his father for always working and never making time for him, angry at Ignis for constantly telling him what to do, angry at Gladio for not listening and pushing him too hard in training.  Angry at the world for taking his mother.  It was a rare night that his father wasn’t working late and they had eaten dinner together.  After dinner his father had dismissed everyone, even Gladio’s father and Regis’ closest friend, Clarus, and asked Noctis if he wanted to hear about the first time he met Aulea.  It was one of the only times his father spoke of his mother, and the only time in his life he saw the soulmark that marred his father’s left bicep, the imagine of a rose and sword intertwined.

“Oh, wow, I, uh, I didn’t know…”

Noctis shook his head and made to get off the couch.  “It’s, whatever.  Most people don’t know and dad always keeps his mark hidden.  I’m grabbing a soda, want one?”

Prompto grabbed Noctis’ wrist as he passed by.  “Ya know, if you ever need to talk or whatever...”

“Yeah Prom, I know.”

********************************************************

Weeks went by in a blur as Prompto spent his summer after graduating high school working several part-time jobs, hanging out with Noctis and going out with Milla.  Milla was low maintenance, never getting upset if Prompto wanted to spend time with his best friend, and easy to talk to.  He had tried several times to get the three of them to hang out together but Milla didn’t want to intrude on his time with his friend and only agreed, once, to a brief meeting.  

For once Prompto felt he wasn’t the most nervous person in the place, poor Milla was shuffling from foot to foot, fingers drumming against her phone case while they waited in the entryway of The Crow’s Nest for Noctis.  Prompto noticed the bulk of the prince’s shield, Gladio, and took Milla’s hand, giving it a light squeeze.

“Don’t worry babe, it’s gonna be fine.  They’re here, so deep breath.”  Prompto shot her one of his bright smiles.  “They’re gonna love you, don’t worry.”

“Wait, they?!”

“Babe, seriously, it’s just Noct and Gladio.  He’s a big teddy bear, please don’t worry.”  Milla didn’t have time to respond as the door to the restaurant opened and Gladio walked in, Noctis following close behind.  Giving Gladio a once-over Prompto sighed to himself Can the guy wear a shirt just once? He slung an arm around Milla and brought her forward to finally meet his best friend.

“Hey, you must be Milla, nice to finally meet you.  Prom’s always talking about you,” Noctis said, holding out a hand.

Milla quickly shook his hand and managed to squeak out “a pleasure your highness” to Noct before hiding her face in Prompto’s neck and asking to be excused for a moment.  He understood what is was like to be shy, Prompto had spent years trying to work through his own shyness to approach the prince, and he was proud of Milla for finally coming out to meet the prince.  With an arm around Milla’s small form he gave her a quick peck to the top of her chestnut hair and said they’d get a table while she excused herself.

“What was that about?” Gladio asked as he directed them to a table in the back, away from prying eyes.

“One, can you wear a shirt, like, ever?  Seriously man!”

“Psssssh, if you had this body you wouldn’t wear one, either.”

Both Noctis and Prompto rolled their eyes at Gladio’s ego.  “Mil’s just shy, that’s all.  I begged her to come out and finally meet Noct but I think the whole prince thing is freaking her out.”

“Well once she finds out how much of a dork he is she’ll be fine.”

“Mean.”

Prompto grinned at Noct, “I mean, he’s not wrong…”  

****

“How long will you be gone?” Milla asked, raising her head from where it rested on Prompto’s chest.

Prompto gently stroked her back through her thin shirt. “Not sure, maybe a couple weeks?  However long it takes to get to Altissa and get Noct hitched.”

“Altissa?!”

Sitting up a little Prompto ran a hand nervously through his bright blond hair. “Yeah, uhm, pretend you didn’t hear that?!”

Milla smile and pressed a gently kiss to his cheek.  “I know nothing.  I’m so proud of you, being Crownsguard and all.” Getting up from the couch she squeezed his hand gently before letting go.  “You better finish packing and get to Noct’s.  Promise you’ll keep in touch on the road?”

Prompto got up and followed her to the door, pulling her slight body into a tight hug.  “Promise babe, I’ll miss you. Don’t go meeting any hot guys while I’m gone!”  With a quick kiss she was out the door, leaving Prompto to an empty apartment and swirling thoughts of his upcoming adventure. ****

Prompto looked down at the phone lock screen, two pairs of smiling eyes stared back, one vivid blue, the other deep brown.  With a shaking hand he unlocked it and scrolled to the last called number, hesitating briefly before pressing the call button below the contact “mom and dad.”