❝ ...I'm really glad you're here.❞
There was an itch in his palm where the phone wanted to be, but he wouldn't bring it back out. This wasn't a moment he wanted behind glass. It was one he wanted to hold onto with his own two hands.
❝ ...I'm really glad you're here.❞
There was an itch in his palm where the phone wanted to be, but he wouldn't bring it back out. This wasn't a moment he wanted behind glass. It was one he wanted to hold onto with his own two hands.
A crooked, almost disbelieving smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, half-laughing under his breath.
❝ guess the gods have got a sense of humor after all. 'cause here you are. and I, ❞ he broke off, glancing at her like he still wasn’t sure
+
A crooked, almost disbelieving smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, half-laughing under his breath.
❝ guess the gods have got a sense of humor after all. 'cause here you are. and I, ❞ he broke off, glancing at her like he still wasn’t sure
+
Now here she was.
❝ ...you said that once, ❞ he finally managed, voice quieter now. ❝ in a letter. back when I... didn’t really think anyone could see me.
+
Now here she was.
❝ ...you said that once, ❞ he finally managed, voice quieter now. ❝ in a letter. back when I... didn’t really think anyone could see me.
+
He’d kept that letter. Still had it tucked away with the others in a little box. That box survived moves, Crownsguard dorm inspections, and who knows what else.
+
He’d kept that letter. Still had it tucked away with the others in a little box. That box survived moves, Crownsguard dorm inspections, and who knows what else.
+
He remembered.
Not instantly. Not with the lightning-bolt clarity in romance movies. But he remembered.
+
He remembered.
Not instantly. Not with the lightning-bolt clarity in romance movies. But he remembered.
+
❝ yeah, my name ain't the most noble sounding. it's even kinda weird, but it's mine. ❞ He'd written the same thing to Stella, more or less. It wasn't less true since the last time he'd said it.
His gaze then flicked up to meet the young woman's.
+
❝ yeah, my name ain't the most noble sounding. it's even kinda weird, but it's mine. ❞ He'd written the same thing to Stella, more or less. It wasn't less true since the last time he'd said it.
His gaze then flicked up to meet the young woman's.
+
❝ Prompto, ❞ he said. The name felt small compared to the weight of the moment, but he gave it anyway. And if she asked for everything he had, he'd give her that too, honestly. ❝ Argentum, if we’re going full disclosure. ❞
He paused and looked down. He rubbed the back of his neck,
+
❝ Prompto, ❞ he said. The name felt small compared to the weight of the moment, but he gave it anyway. And if she asked for everything he had, he'd give her that too, honestly. ❝ Argentum, if we’re going full disclosure. ❞
He paused and looked down. He rubbed the back of his neck,
+
Then he offered to give his name to her, and she accepted the offer. He cast the thread first, but her confirmation felt like a blessing. Or a spell. Something sacred, like that.
His mouth curved in a smile. It was sheepish and warm.
+
Then he offered to give his name to her, and she accepted the offer. He cast the thread first, but her confirmation felt like a blessing. Or a spell. Something sacred, like that.
His mouth curved in a smile. It was sheepish and warm.
+
There were things she said that stuck in his ribs. In the hollow places he didn't know were waiting to be filled. Peace, tranquility. Words like that, said with her voice and with her gaze the dreamiest shade of his favorite color...
+
There were things she said that stuck in his ribs. In the hollow places he didn't know were waiting to be filled. Peace, tranquility. Words like that, said with her voice and with her gaze the dreamiest shade of his favorite color...
+
+
+
❝ not to worry, I can space those kisses out so I don't take your breath away all at once. ❞
❝ not to worry, I can space those kisses out so I don't take your breath away all at once. ❞
There was laughter in his words, but there was warmth in it too. He knew enough to see how careful Ardyn was. When it came to being vulnerable around others, caution was right. But Prompto would be gentle. It was only right.
+
There was laughter in his words, but there was warmth in it too. He knew enough to see how careful Ardyn was. When it came to being vulnerable around others, caution was right. But Prompto would be gentle. It was only right.
+
❝ ooh, should I be worried about my immortal date not breathing every time I kiss him? I mean, I could make CPR part of the evening, but how would I explain to the waiter at the fancy restaurant we'll go to,
+
❝ ooh, should I be worried about my immortal date not breathing every time I kiss him? I mean, I could make CPR part of the evening, but how would I explain to the waiter at the fancy restaurant we'll go to,
+
He leaned in enough to speak like they were sharing a secret. No one else was around.
+
He leaned in enough to speak like they were sharing a secret. No one else was around.
+
Not that he ever wanted Ardyn to take it back. Not even a smidge. But teasing the man about it was half the fun, especially with that smile that would tug at his lips at such antics.
+
Not that he ever wanted Ardyn to take it back. Not even a smidge. But teasing the man about it was half the fun, especially with that smile that would tug at his lips at such antics.
+
❝ a really real, official date? ❞
He fake-swooned a little,
+
❝ a really real, official date? ❞
He fake-swooned a little,
+
He zoomed closer. Zoomed in on Ardyn in particular. Did he . . . were his eyes blue in this shot?
He glanced over at Stella, then back at his phone. He held up the photo where she could see it.
❝ check out his eyes in this one! ❞
He zoomed closer. Zoomed in on Ardyn in particular. Did he . . . were his eyes blue in this shot?
He glanced over at Stella, then back at his phone. He held up the photo where she could see it.
❝ check out his eyes in this one! ❞
+
+
He slurped his boba loudly and sprawled across Stella's bed. His phone was in the other hand, and he scrolled through his photo set of the lovebirds like some undercover matchmaking cryptid. His cheeks hurt from grinning.
+
He slurped his boba loudly and sprawled across Stella's bed. His phone was in the other hand, and he scrolled through his photo set of the lovebirds like some undercover matchmaking cryptid. His cheeks hurt from grinning.
+
❝ yeah, it's better if we're up front. we're just trying to help Ardyn; he's kinda unreachable in his own way.
+
❝ yeah, it's better if we're up front. we're just trying to help Ardyn; he's kinda unreachable in his own way.
+
That mystery woman had just what Ardyn needed, he was sure. They may not have known her name, but Prompto had seen enough. She was elegant. Commanding. She had sharp eyes with a softness in the corners.
+
That mystery woman had just what Ardyn needed, he was sure. They may not have known her name, but Prompto had seen enough. She was elegant. Commanding. She had sharp eyes with a softness in the corners.
+
That sounded too good. But the truth that Prompto figured out early was that Ardyn didn't 𝘥𝘰 happy. Sure, Ardyn smiled. And he laughed. But actual joy? There were rare instances that were genuine, but it was mostly performance. A mask carved to hide his grief and other things.
+
That sounded too good. But the truth that Prompto figured out early was that Ardyn didn't 𝘥𝘰 happy. Sure, Ardyn smiled. And he laughed. But actual joy? There were rare instances that were genuine, but it was mostly performance. A mask carved to hide his grief and other things.
+