[ Everything in his voice makes Noctis' heart hurt. So what if he's reckless? This is Prompto, and he trusts the man with his life. He trusts him beyond anything else he ever knows, reaching for him again. There's fur, of all things, and he can't help but stare at the tail, distracting and did it really come out from his butt?
Prompto is scared, which means Noctis mustn't be. He's scared and he needs Noctis, and so Noctis will be strong for him. ]
I'll take care of Sparky, Prompto. I won't let you hurt him, I promise. But you can't stay out here -- there are people who might want to hurt you.
[ Don't run away from me, he wants to say, frowning at him. ] I'm not gonna let you be alone.
[For once, it didn't even occur to Prompto that he could be the one hurt. As soon as he felt the change happening, all his panic faced outwards. Noct. Ignis. The chocobos. Their friends.
He squeezes his eyes shut but, this time, doesn't move away from Noct's hand, even though he twitches a little when it lands.
--Yes. Okay. The moment ends, and Prompto knows he won't ever hurt Noct, not like this.]
...There's nowhere to lock me up in the basement. Is there?
[The curse of an overfull house. Nowhere to chain up your errant demi-weres. Prompto gulps and stares down at the tops of his knees, the only thing he can see, all curled up.]
Maybe. That empty house in Flavo? Where I was trying to cook, remember?
It's just like him, isn't it -- to put everyone else above himself? It's always been the way he is, worried about what he would do to anyone else that he doesn't think of what others could do to him. But it's why Noctis is here; he has to be the one to look out for him, to take care of him however he can.
Prompto needs him now, and he can't turn away. ]
No, there isn't. There's our room, you'll be safe in there.
[ Because Noctis isn't going to let Prompto be alone with himself, curled up and miserable. Prompto won't hurt anyone, he's physically incapable of it. Noctis ventures close, gently petting his ears. ]
Our room, Prompto. Wolf or not, you still belong here. With me and Iggy.
[What else did he expect? They'd kept him even though he was something much more horrible, if perhaps less dangerous, than a wolf. If Noct and Iggy don't remember, it doesn't matter; Prompto does. Prompto can never, ever forget. It's part of him, that thump of friendly fist against his chest, the dismay that never came.
Prompto's eyes drift closed under the soft movement of Noct's fingers over his ears. Without thinking about, he lifts his chin, opens his mouth, revealing all those sharp teeth--
And licks Noct's palm.
A beat passes.]
Oh, shit, dude, I--I'm so sorry, I can't believe I did that! Aw, gross!
[ So that's a thing, isn't it? He looks down at where Prompto just licked his palm, which is really weird but honestly no weirder than the fact that his best, best friend in the world is half-wolf right now and is actually really cute.
Sharp teeth are a lot less cute but whatever, the point is: Prompto isn't about to escape into the forest alone and hide from him or whatever, and like this, he can keep him safe.
Heh. Noctis gives him a crooked grin. ]
You're never gonna live that down, I'm just saying.
You're the one who started petting me like I'm a dog!
[He's so embarrassed, but embarrassment is better than bloodlust. With a frustrated whine, Prompto pulls the collar of his jacket up over his face and tips over onto his side; no, actually, he pulls his jacket completely over his head.
Ah, yes, Prompto-grade dramatics.]
I'm gonna rip up all your toilet paper and pee all over your room, you jerk!
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Prompto is scared, which means Noctis mustn't be. He's scared and he needs Noctis, and so Noctis will be strong for him. ]
I'll take care of Sparky, Prompto. I won't let you hurt him, I promise. But you can't stay out here -- there are people who might want to hurt you.
[ Don't run away from me, he wants to say, frowning at him. ] I'm not gonna let you be alone.
no subject
He squeezes his eyes shut but, this time, doesn't move away from Noct's hand, even though he twitches a little when it lands.
--Yes. Okay. The moment ends, and Prompto knows he won't ever hurt Noct, not like this.]
...There's nowhere to lock me up in the basement. Is there?
[The curse of an overfull house. Nowhere to chain up your errant demi-weres. Prompto gulps and stares down at the tops of his knees, the only thing he can see, all curled up.]
Maybe. That empty house in Flavo? Where I was trying to cook, remember?
no subject
It's just like him, isn't it -- to put everyone else above himself? It's always been the way he is, worried about what he would do to anyone else that he doesn't think of what others could do to him. But it's why Noctis is here; he has to be the one to look out for him, to take care of him however he can.
Prompto needs him now, and he can't turn away. ]
No, there isn't. There's our room, you'll be safe in there.
[ Because Noctis isn't going to let Prompto be alone with himself, curled up and miserable. Prompto won't hurt anyone, he's physically incapable of it. Noctis ventures close, gently petting his ears. ]
Our room, Prompto. Wolf or not, you still belong here. With me and Iggy.
no subject
[What else did he expect? They'd kept him even though he was something much more horrible, if perhaps less dangerous, than a wolf. If Noct and Iggy don't remember, it doesn't matter; Prompto does. Prompto can never, ever forget. It's part of him, that thump of friendly fist against his chest, the dismay that never came.
Prompto's eyes drift closed under the soft movement of Noct's fingers over his ears. Without thinking about, he lifts his chin, opens his mouth, revealing all those sharp teeth--
And licks Noct's palm.
A beat passes.]
Oh, shit, dude, I--I'm so sorry, I can't believe I did that! Aw, gross!
no subject
[ So that's a thing, isn't it? He looks down at where Prompto just licked his palm, which is really weird but honestly no weirder than the fact that his best, best friend in the world is half-wolf right now and is actually really cute.
Sharp teeth are a lot less cute but whatever, the point is: Prompto isn't about to escape into the forest alone and hide from him or whatever, and like this, he can keep him safe.
Heh. Noctis gives him a crooked grin. ]
You're never gonna live that down, I'm just saying.
no subject
[He's so embarrassed, but embarrassment is better than bloodlust. With a frustrated whine, Prompto pulls the collar of his jacket up over his face and tips over onto his side; no, actually, he pulls his jacket completely over his head.
Ah, yes, Prompto-grade dramatics.]
I'm gonna rip up all your toilet paper and pee all over your room, you jerk!
no subject
C'mon, boy! Let's go home and if you behave, I'll take you out on walks.
[ YEAH THIS IS YOUR BEST FRIEND NOW, PROMPTO. Also what's the point of having one if they can't tease you mercilessly amirite. ]