It’s a half-hearted discussion at best, they’ve all known Noctis long enough to realize he’s likely to abdicate if they try to prevent him from this. He appears spoiled often, but he pays for things with money he earns, he cares about his people and does his best. In many ways, he’s just a normal teenager who spends an inordinate amount of time around big money. If they try to take the one person he’s actually asked to be allowed to spend time with, the one thing he’s asked of them for himself, he’ll turn away from his duty without much thought.

If they want him to save the world, like destiny says he’s going to, they have to let him save himself first and Prompto is the most likely person to help him along the way.

Ignis, personally, doesn’t care much about the reasoning. He cares that Noctis is in love and that Prompto is equally smitten and that they’re just a couple of kids who are doing things all backwards.

Gladio’s phone buzzes again and they slide closer together, looking at it without drawing attention to themselves.

The crownsguard and glaive are texting furiously about the new devlopement, but unlike the councilmen, they’re supportive and amused.

-How long until Prompto tries to get us to raise chocobos?

-I give it two weeks after the wedding.

-Okay, twenty crowns on that.

-You’re fuckin’ on Crowe!

-Oi, you lot better not be texting on duty! Also, kid’s awful shy about asking for things, I give it a solid year or Noctis gets them as a gift.

Gladio rolls his eyes and chimes in

-We’ll have ‘em before there’s a wedding, Noctis blurted out the proposal, they’ve gotta actually go through dating first.

-Please, with the way they’ve made eyes at each other for the last couple years? Wedding in no more than six months or I’ll eat Nyx’s cooking.

-Hey!

-Yeah fuck you man.

-Ladies and Gentlemen you have jobs to be doing. I suggest you do them. Also, official bets can be placed in my office.

-Yes sir!

The last text is repeated from various members of the staff and Ignis blinks in surprise, Cor get’s group texts...he wonders who else is seeing them.

A glance at the King confirms his suspicions as Regis subtly looks at his wrist where Ignis knows he wears a watch that shows him texts. He catches Ignis’ eyes and nods very slightly before continuing to listen to the men who have moved to arguing about when the wedding should take place.

In another part of the Citadel the Prince wakes. His eyes roam the planes of Prompto’s familiar but no less beloved features and he immediately groans, flopping over on his back.

Beloved. What is he, a character in a romance novel?

“Dude, whatever your damage is, can it wait until I’ve slept more?”

Noctis snorts as Prompto’s sleepy voice breaks the pseudo-silence. He squeezes Prompto’s fingers and releases his hand, yawning widely and stretching.

“Mmmm...”

Prompto knows the nuances of Noctis’ hums by now and he sighs, prodding the Prince.

“Look...we need to maybe talk about my parents, and the fact that you asked me to marry you, because as much as...I mean-I’m not saying no? but, as much as I would love that...dude.”

Noctis grunts his agreement and Prompto continues, “I’d like to just, kiss you and maybe grab some food together in a not best friends way first? Then I guess, we can talk about it?”

Noctis reaches an arm out and Prompto rolls his eyes, sliding under it and laying against Noctis. It’s not unfamiliar but it’s been a long time since they’ve slept like this and it’s got a new meaning now, but it’s still relaxing.

“Yeah. Kenny’s tomorrow?”

“Yeah....uh-kiss now?”

“Yeah”

Prompto licks his lips and scoots so he can press his lips to Noctis’. It’s gentle and nice, just the pressure of their lips and the slide of them as they move together to get comfortable. Noctis sighs a bit and Prompto hums in response, licking over Noctis’ lower lip.

The light touch is returned and they slowly taste each other, keeping things slow and languid. Warmth spreads through Prompto’s whole body as he carefully rolls his tongue over Noctis’ and he feels the slight upward curve of Noctis’ lips under his. They part with twin sighs and Noctis kisses Prompto’s forehead lightly, making them both turn a bit red.

“Sleep...need more.”

“Me too.”

He doesn’t bother with knocking, simply lets himself into Prompto’s home and locates the blonde where Noctis has him laying on the couch. Noctis’ hands are fluttering over Prompto and there’s more worry than Ignis is used to seeing in the Prince’s face.

He takes a steadying breath and announces his presence, setting the bag of supplies on the floor near Prompto.

“Noctis. What’s happened?”

Prompto blinks at him slowly and curls in on himself more, the image of an injured fawn comes to mind as Ignis watches Prompto’s chin disappear under the blankets Noctis has piled on him.

Noctis splays a hand out, fingers wide. He doesn’t know how much he should explain, he knows some of the reasons but it’s Prompto’s choice what Ignis knows, so he goes with the basics.

“I’m not sure exactly, but when I go here he was half frozen in the bathroom. He was sitting on the floor half soaked and none of the heat in the house was on.”

Noctis see’s in the way Prompto is also listening to him that his friend probably is more out of touch than he thought.

Ignis nods firmly, “I’ll retrieve a towel to dry his hair. He needs body heat now, Noctis strip down and lay next to him, I will bring some hot tea.”

It’s a testament to Noctis’ concern that he starts dropping clothes, usually not the type to bare his body easily. Ignis has seen him in various states of dress plenty of times, but it’s still jarring to see the jagged scar that crosses his back.

He shakes himself and goes about getting the things they need. The warm clothes he’d brought as well as the preventative medicine can wait.

Noctis slides under the blanket and pulls Prompto against him, hissing a little at the contact. He wishes the circumstances were different, that they were curled together for better reasons.

Prompto shudders and noses him, muscles painfully tight but beginning to loosen as Noctis holds him.

“ ‘m wet?”

Noctis barely catches the mumbled question and frowns, nodding.

“Yeah, dude, how long were you in the bathroom?”

Prompto shrugs against him, “Dunno. I’m sorry. I t-tried...but I couldn’t stop thinking and I sorta..l-lost it.”

Noctis hums lowly, acknowledging, he smells Prompto’s hair and immediately cringes. It’s not water, Prompto is drenched in his own sweat as he shakes against Noctis, muscles finally loosening to allow him to shiver again. It’s a good thing but it still makes Noctis’ heart ache as Ignis returns and begins to carefully towel dry Prompto’s hair.

He decides to hold off on the tea until Prompto’s doing a bit better but he opens his bag and starts activating emergency heat packets, passing them to Noctis to place carefully between the blankets covering himself and the blonde.

It still takes a while for Prompto to get warm enough that he seems cognitive and Noctis watches his eyes droop in exhaustion. The Prince himself is a little too warm, but he knows Prompto needs him for more than just body heat.

“Noct-I’m sorry. I thought I was gonna be alright and I’m sor-”

Noctis shakes his head, hugging Prompto tighter, “It’s alright Prompto. Just rest, we can talk about it once you’re alright again.”

There’s another slight nod and Ignis moves to press the mouth of a water bottle to Prompto’s lips, leaning heavily into Noctis’ body to do so. Noctis doesn’t protest though, Prompto needs the fluids.

They give him time then, time to just relax until he’s nearly asleep against Noctis and their temperatures have evened out to something comfortable and safe. Prompto’s nose is pressed to Noctis’ collarbone and Noctis’ fingers are laced in his hair, rubbing it gently between the pads.

“Hey, Prom...where’re your parents?”

Usually they show up at least once, even if it’s just to grab something and it’s been hours now with nothing. Prompto’s shoulders tense immediately thought and Noctis pushes him so he can look in his eyes.

“Prompto?”

The blonde’s eyes are moist and he takes a shuddering breath in, “I don’t...Noct. They...last month they decided that they needed to be close to where they work but they didn’t want me to move with them and I...they’re gone.”

Prompto trails off and the room is silent for a long moment before Ignis’ incredulous voice sounds.

“Prompto, are you saying they’ve simply left you here?”

Prompto nods, hiding his face against Noctis again as a sob runs through him and Noctis feels like a rug has been ripped from under him. His best friend, the person he’s in love with, has been hurting and he didn’t see…

Prompto pushes out, “It’s alright, I’m dealing with it, mostly. Things were weird between us anyways but it’s been hard not to let…” He chokes on tears for a moment, “I just feel kinda numb about it but I keep over thinking everything else and I, I know that most people don’t really want me around and I get left behind a lot-”

Noctis inhales sharply, he knows where this is headed. “Prompto, it’s not because of you. They made their decisions because they’re workaholics, not because of you! I don’t know what’s going on with them but, I-fuck…”

He isn’t good at this, he can’t comfort with words and he doesn’t know how to give Prompto the things he needs, the reassurance that his parent’s hadn’t abandoned him because he’d done something wrong, that Prompto still has him, him and Ignis and Gladio. He wants to take the warm love and the comfort and understanding Prompto always gives him and pour it back into the blonde but he doesn’t know how.

Finally he just gives up on words entirely and presses a gentle kiss to Prompto’s cheek. The blonde’s breath stops entirely and Noctis immediately panics a bit, shuffling them around so he’s leaning over Prompto even as Ignis huffs behind him.

“Noct?”

He blushes, sometimes he forgets he hasn’t actually told Prompto how he feels yet. It’s the worst timing, but maybe it’ll help a little...he isn’t sure but he’s saved from the words threatening to suffocate him by Ignis just the same.

“If you’re feeling up to it Prompto, I believe you should eat something small. Then I believe that both Noctis and myself would feel much better if you came to stay at the citadel. I also feel you should know that I’ve informed Gladio and if you refuse he is threatening to come and carry you there. It will give you the time you and Noctis need to speak to one another,” Noctis catches the knowing tone in Ignis’ voice and blushes again, “and give you the resources to discuss what happens since you are not yet fully independent. You’re parents will be contacted about their negligence.”

Prompto’s cheeks are dusted a light red but he still tries to protest, “N-no, Iggy, it’s fine they just needed away, I get it!”

Ignis isn’t about to deal with that though and Noctis can see the response before it comes but he is still surprised by both the vehemence and the genuine concern in Ignis’ demeanor.

“It’s not fine Prompto, they cannot simply leave their child behind without any warning, let alone bothering to explain themselves to him. If they truly want you out of their lives they are fools and we will do our best to give you the family you deserve. Regis would not mind another son.”

Prompto is staring open mouthed and Noctis finds the sudden image of Prompto and his father becoming closer, of Prompto in a nice white suit, of royal rights so Prompto really would be a prince, but certainly not Noctis’ brother, fills his mind.

He’s getting ahead of himself though and he coughs a little, even as Ignis clears his throat and leaves to pack Prompto a bag.

“Wow...I’m dead aren’t I? I passed out and froze to death in the bathroom, because Ignis could not have just told me we could be brothers?”

Noctis snorts and blanches internally. Now or never, he guesses.

“You’re not dead, you’re just a bit dense. Ignis didn’t say you could be my brother, he said you could be another son to my father. A Prince.”

Prompto’s expression is confused but not unhopeful if still a little hazy.

“Well if he adopted me, then I’d totally be your brother and-wait, oh...shit a Prince!?”

Noctis huffed and rolled his eyes, “Yeah a Prince dude, but not my brother because it’d be really weird if I was married to my brother.”

Oh. Not exactly how Noctis meant to phrase the fact that he was in love with the blonde. Shit.

“I...oh. I mean-I-uh- It’d be weird if I was in love with my brother?”

It’s too late though, Prompto’s eyes are huge and his cheeks are twin flames as he gasps trying to come up with words.

“You love me? YOU...you want to marry me?”

It comes out half shout, half whisper and Noctis bites his lip and shrugs a bit, laying back down properly and hugging Prompto’s shocked for again.

“I mean, I did that all backwards...but yeah?”

Prompto stares into his eyes until he hears Ignis moving closer, “Alright. I mean, i’m gonna need a bit for any of this to be real to me, but if I’m not dreaming or dead...alright. I’ll marry you.”

Noctis grins and then, “Wait...I-no-we...can we do that? Can we skip being boyfriends?”

In the hallway Ignis shoots a text to Gladiolus

“Apparently they WEREN’T dating yet? I do think Noctis just proposed however.”