A Prince's Friend is Hard Work

[chocobosnap]

 Prompto was nervous.

That was not the least bit unusual in itself, he had some terrible anxieties that made his life complicated and challenging all at once, all the time, but he'd had a handle on things, at least, he thought so. 

He received a letter and turned his world upside down.

All of that hard work had come to fruition and he was now a new friend to the prince, someone he got along with a lot better than he used to. He'd seen and met some of his retainers, some of the people around him. They all seemed nice, if wary, and huge. 

Prompto had never been tall, and he was slightly shorter than Noct who seemed short beside his bodyguard Gladio. He was kind of hoping he'd get bigger, but he doubted it. 

The longer he spent with Noctis, they'd begun asking him questions about his skills in self-defense, because there could be danger inadvertently. Ignis had been the one to deliver the message that he should learn, and asked him to report to the Citadel one Sunday morning to meet with Cor Leonis - The Marshal - who was going to test him, or teach him, or something. 

He was on time, had been escorted to the gym and, dressed in his gym clothes, he was waiting nervously, pressed against a wall to avoid any looks from any of the Glaives around. He couldn't have looked more out of place if he tried, with his black track pants and dark purple t-shirt with a frolicking cartoon chocobo on it. 

Comments

[immortalmarshal]

"No, they didn't," Cor reassures him as he walks alongside Prompto. "And don't apologize. Monica's right; none of this has ever been your fault."

Once they do reach the room, though, Cor pulls him into a brief hug. "I'm not dumping you anywhere, not even over that kind of secret. You're coming home with me, and you're going to get settled in and get some rest."

[chocobosnap]

He hesitated only for a moment and then Cor hugged him which made him look up in surprise. It was only brief, he didn't have time to return it.

"I...okay..." He said weakly, looking a bit thrown by the changes all at once.

"I don't have that much stuff."

[immortalmarshal]

Cor pats his shoulder comfortingly. "I know it's a bit much now, but I promise that things will get better from here."

He does glance around the room, seeing Prompto's point. "Well, then...it shouldn't take no more than one trip, then, if we can get everything on the truck. Let's get started by getting Gladio to help move what furniture you have..."

Clearly, though, there will be much shopping to do in the future. Not that it bothers Cor one bit to spend money on someone other than himself.

[chocobosnap]

"Okay."

Prompto agreed and let his friends come in to help. Ignis must have said something because Noct didn't comment on his split lip and they just moved his things without complaint. He didn't have a lot of clothes, and what he did have had chocobos on them, for the most part. He had a few stuffed animals, photographs everywhere that had to be collected and a very old computer he did his school work on, as well as his books. When the room was empty an hour later it was just surreal as the rest of the house.

Prompto looked around in awe and then nodded to Cor. "We can...we can go, I think."

[immortalmarshal]

Ignis simply told Noctis not to mention it because he was concerned about setting off Cor again. And Ignis acted around Cor like Noctis would act around Ignis the one time he actually got angry within Prompto's presence so far. As in, tip-toeing around the man and being as polite and brief as possible.

The stuffed animals and photos were packed away with care thanks to Cor and Noctis, though the latter was seriously eying the age of the computer with slight disappointment. The Marshal can already guess what one of Prompto's next birthday presents might be. Everything else that's not electronics or furniture was packed up in boxes and bags, and hauled onto the truck. Cor and Gladio personally handled what few pieces of furniture Prompto said was his by themselves.

Once the truck was loaded, it was time to discuss who would go into what vehicle. Monica already left a long while back with Mr. Argentum to process him at the Crownsguard station nearby. So it was a matter of discussing who will go with Cor and Prompto in the Marshal's car. Which ultimately dissolves into talking Noctis out of driving either vehicle.

It almost feels normal, this kind of discussion. Almost.

[chocobosnap]

The discussion was a little silly and everything and very normal, which was great and amazing after everything.

Prompto helped as best he could and he was trying not to be too quiet, but ultimately he was tired and emotionally strung out.

After some time, they were getting in the car, and he sat next to Noctis in the back of Cor's car.

"Sorry about this Noct." He murmured, leaning against him.

[immortalmarshal]

Normally, Cor would let Noctis ride in the front passenger seat whenever he had to pick up the prince. But for once, he took Noctis aside and quietly asked him to sit next to Prompto in the back. "He needs his friend," he empahsized, "More than ever."

Which is why Noctis is trying not to sulk about being in the back seat; it's easier to avoid that as soon as Prompto props his head onto his shoulder. Even as Cor starts the car up and fastens his seat belt, he can hear Noctis groaning about how this is not Prom's fault, and that Noct himself really should've realized this sooner.

Cor doesn't have to look at the rear-view mirror to know that this has been tearing up his prince inside. It's obvious in his voice as Noctis went on, "I'm sorry it took this long for me to realize what kind of shitty home life you had. I..." He pauses as Cor drives them towards his place. "I could've moved you into my place weeks ago if I knew..."

"It's still on the table," Cor points out. "We're just setting Prompto up at my place until he's healed up and ready for a better home."

"Your place is so bare, though," Noct complains. "You barely have a TV, and there's hardly any surround sound for it..."

[chocobosnap]

"Ahhhh that's okay Noct!" Prompto protested a little bit. "It's not like I need stuff like that." He hadn't exactly had them, they couldn't all live like the prince of Lucis.

He would much rather have a safe place to sleep for the night, then he could figure it out.

"I'm just sorry I'm trouble for everyone else." He murmured, hanging his head a little bit. He should've been better. He should've coped better. If he hadn't have gotten sick. If he hadn't let Cor see him. Why couldn't he just slack off like some other kid?

[immortalmarshal]

"Besides, he has schoolwork to catch up on," Cor points out. "You two can play whatever games you want to hook up to the TV later."

"Yes, Dad," Noct snarks back with an exaggerated eyeroll. But that snark quickly disappears as soon as Prompto makes that apology. "Prom, you're--augh... You're not trouble...!"

Cor keeps his breathing calm and even as he turns onto the street leading into the neighborhood that his place is located in. "Noctis is right. You're not trouble, or in it. You just need help - the kind of help that we can give. And...there's no shame in seeking help when it is needed."

[chocobosnap]

He didn't know if Cor was right that he deserved this kind of help or that he should be asking for it - he should've been able to handle himself. Figure things out. That's what he'd been taught and this meant he hadn't done that.

"Okay." Prompto answered, but he didn't know if he believed it was okay.

He glanced out the window, thinking about his homework and while he didn't like it, it just gave him something to do, and Cor was right he needed to do it. He wasn't sure what he was going to do in life after school, he didn't think he had many options, not when he was from Niflheim. His parents, teachers, others had expectations for him that he didn't like, but he didn't see a better path. He didn't want to disappoint Cor or Noctis however, so he would try and do his best.

[immortalmarshal]

It doesn't take much longer for them to reach Cor's place. The neighborhood is rather nice, but not fancy-wealthy. Plus, it's a short drive away from the Citadel, should they need to get to or from there in a hurry.

"This is it," Cor announces as he pulls into hia parking spot. The apartment building looks like one that could be used in any TV show about "middle-class" families. Gladio and Ignis are already there with the truck, ready to help Prompto move into his new home. "You two ready? Even with the elevator, it'll take a bit to get everything inside."

Of course, inside Cor's place is...different. Granted, there's decent space for both him and Prompto, and all the furniture look sturdy and comfy. The aesthetics, however is...basic. Nearly spartan. The only pictures are a few showing a teenage Cor among a few other men, most in their 20s except for one middle-aged blonde guy. One of the other men look eerily like Noctis, though...

[chocobosnap]

"Yeah, it's great Cor." Prompto wasn't worried about what amenities Cor had going on, he just helped move his things into the spare room, for what he had. It wasn't a ton either, but it was a lot less spartan than Cor's way of living, and photographs, he had a ton.

He looked at the pictures when they were done, he wasn't one to shirk work and he pointed. "Is that the king?"

[immortalmarshal]

Cor is satisfoed eith how well the move has gone so far - nothing broken, and only a couple of mild arguments between Gladio and Noctis bout some minor issues.

The Marshal smiles as Prompto points to the phot in question. "Yeah, it is - Regis was about 20 when we went on that trip. Clarus is the one right next to him," he adds, pointing to the tall man who could possibly pass as Gladio's older brother.

"Ohmigod," Noct laughs on happy surprise. "He actually had hair back then!"

[chocobosnap]

"Whoa." Prompto had never seen the king that young, obviously since it was before his and Noct's time. Clarus he didn't really know, but he looked a lot like Gladio.

Gladio meandered over and glanced at the picture before nudging Noctis for the comment. "I've seen this before, he's got the same picture."

"Where did you go on a road trip?" Prompto asked, although maybe Cor couldn't answer something like that. It would be okay, his parents weren't the type to answer questions.

[immortalmarshal]

"Of course he does," Cor chuckles in response to Gladio's statement. "He's the one who insisted upon taking pictures at what he believed to be important points along our journey. Though Regis kept most of them..."

There's a fond little smile as he turns to Prompto. "We were on a secret trip to Accordo, trying to forge an alliance against the Empire. The war was raging strongly at the time, and thus King Mors thought it wise to send me along with Regis and his retinue at the time."

The Cor in that picture, though, couldn't look to be older than 15 or 16 however...

[chocobosnap]

"You look so young here." Prompto said, and a lot smaller, which is sort of encouraging. It was possible, maybe, that he'd grow up big and strong like Cor someday. But really, who was he kidding? He was just managing this self defense training.

"That isn't too surprisin'." Gladio offered. "He took a lot of pictures of us growing up. Baby pictures and stuff."

"Really?" Prompto asked him, looking surprised. Was that really a thing?

[immortalmarshal]

"Yeah; I was 15 at the time. Technically, I should've just been starting my training...but I managed to get in a couple of years early." Yes, Cor really got into the Crownsguard at age 13; he won't deny that these days. After all, who's gonna prosecute him after all he's done for crown and country?

"Oh, yeah, Clarus does like to do that - still takes pics of Iris every now and then," Noctis agrees. "I think he's the reason why Dad would sneak some phone pics of me and Ignis when were kids."

Ignis, for his part, is deliberately ignoring the slight flush on his face as he starts to make his way over to the kitchen to prepare some kind of snack for the group.

[chocobosnap]

"Whoa, that's really true? Kinda cool." Prompto said with wide eyes. Cor was an impressive guy, and kind of his idol to begin with. His were bright.

"Oh really? I just have lots of selfies." He gushed slightly. "And lots of pictures of other people's pets."

Gladio snorted. He didn't think much about Prompto's adoptive parents. All parents should be taking pictures of their kids.

[immortalmarshal]

Well, Cor doesn't consider himself to be parent material yet. But the idea of taking at least one photo of Prompto for the records wouldn't hurt. Maybe if-and-when he graduates from Crownsguard training, or when he eventually graduates from high school...

"I wouldn't mind if you wanna hang up your photos around here," Cor remarks casually. "We could always get you some frames if you need it..."

"Yeah, at least it'll help make the place look more lived-in."

"Noctis...!"

[chocobosnap]

"Oh yeah, um sure, if you want? They're not that good. They're just you know, something I do..." He was rambling nervously, as though he wasn't getting there, he kind of was like anyone else who eventually perfects their craft.

"I just had them up with sticky tack on the walls, I mean, frames are like for really good ones or something. Besides, some of them are just embarrassing pictures of Noct." He teased, deflecting a little bit.

[immortalmarshal]

"I dunno," Gladio muses. "I thought I saw a couple of nice ones in that box you had of them...especially the one of Noct's scrawny little ass."

Cor begins to ignore the usual arguments starting up again between Noctis and Gladio, instead focusing on Prompto. "You should still at least have something to display them on besides just a blank wall. I could always get you one of those cork boards and some pins, if you'd like."

[chocobosnap]

"Really?" Prompto asked, eyes a little brighter.

"I mean, yeah, that'd be great if you did, just...uh, thanks." He was easily flustered and unsure what to do with those nerves.

[immortalmarshal]

Cor smiles a little more warmly upon seeing Prompto light up. For some reason, it just feels right to treat Prompto like this. Something that's a practical gift...

"Sure. It wouldn't be hard to find one around here, and it'll be something you can keep."

[chocobosnap]

"That, um, that's great, really!" Prompto was excited. It was a small gift, but he wasn't really used to those. Aside from Noctis occasionally spoiling him with a small trinket like the chocobo keychain that was on his school bag, he didn't really get gifts.

"Is there...stuff I should know? I don't want to mess things up too much."

[immortalmarshal]

Cor gently shakes his head. "Not very much, no. At this moment, I only expect you to rest and recover in-between homework assignments. We can discuss catch-up training and house chores when your hand is healed up."

He will also need to contact Prompto's employer to let him know that the young blonde should be put on medical leave. Ideally, though, Cor should be encouraging Prompto to give his workplace a two-week notice, since the Marshall intends to financially support the lad until a new family could be found for him.

(Nevermind, of course, that they kind of found a family in each other already, and that Ignis may already be seeing that...)