kittycaterer | Ic inbox

[ Noctis is actually up and not in his pajamas for once. As the dogs come barreling to the door to greet Prompto, he follows quietly behind them. There's a lopsided smile in face as he leans against the doorway to his room. ]

Jumping to conclusions.

I walked both of them this morning. We just got back. Tiny's honest.

Bullshit.

[he says, putting tiny down and covering her ears with his hands when he says that. but up he goes, letting the dogs at their treats, and makes his way to the kitchen counter, where he deposits the bag small decorated bag with the cheesecake slices inside. he sets his own bag down on the couch]

I'm gonna shower first if that's okay. You can eat without me if you want.

[his smile is there, but it's barely the brightest one.]

[ Noctis makes a sputtering sound with his lips as Prompto accuses him of lying. ]

If I hear Tiny repeat that, it's your fault.

[ Pupper parenting is serious. He waves his hand dismissively as he waltzes over to the couch. Noctis takes a seat. ]

Go for it. I'll wait.

[ He does, however, make pause at Prompto's general tone. That smile looks forced, and that's solely based on the dozens of genuine smiles he's seen from the guy. ]

Ah.

There's fresh towels in the linen closet.

[ Nah, he'll ask later. ]

Thanks.

[he calls out and makes his way further into the apartment. he knows where things are, and he takes no time in getting a towel and finding his way into the bathroom--pleasantly surprised to find not just his pajamas, but some of his other clothes that he had left here, pressed and folded on the counter of the bathroom.]

[noctis is kind of too good for him]

[one steamy, hot shower later, prompto emerges with sweatpants and a shirt, still drying his hair with a towel]

Wanna watch a movie? There's probably something to watch on Netflix.

[he plates up the two cheesecake slices he bought and hands noctis one of them, along with a small spoon. he sits down diagonal from the other, feet up on the couch, towel over his shoulders]

Here's to my early demise via dairy.

[and in goes a spoonful]

[ Noctis had already managed to turn on the television and switch on Netflix. Consider it knowing his friend that well and just assuming. But it's usually their routine after Prompto gets off work anyway. Noctis is left to fuss over minute details in Prompto's expression and overall vibe, and nothing seems right. He shifts, trying to get comfortable, because he's not confrontational but he is honest and straight forward.

When Prompto emerges from the shower, he turns his head. There's a second that he's still completely silent, eyes quick to shift back for... whatever reason.

The couch cushions shift as Prompto lands, causing Noctis to wobble ever so slightly, and he takes his plate. ]

Thanks.

[ Noctis gestures to the TV. ]

How about a sci-fi flick?

[ He'll... Wait to ask. ]

Mhm, anything's good to be honest.

[he takes another spoonful of the cheesecake into his mouth, head turned and eyes glued to the tv. he looks tired, and also like he's having a hard time concentrating. it's not tiny nor rufus who comes to prompto's side, but etro, jumping onto the back of the couch and walking until she's sat close to prompto's shoulder]

[he's smiling a bit more at that, speaking quietly to the cat]

Hey, Etro.

[he smears some cheesecake onto his index finger and puts it close to the cat, who licks at it after sniffing it]

[ Prompto doesn't seem to have any pep in his step at all. Save for the enthusiasm reserved for the animals, he looks like he's uncomfortable. Or upset. Noctis' gaze lingers long enough that he doesn't even dig into his cheesecake yet. He only takes some time to switch on a space movie, setting down the remote as he exhales the question, casual as ever. For his sake. ]

What's up? You seem down.

[he turns his eyes to noctis, suddenly, at the question. and his obvious fluster is enough of a clue-in that he isn't as guarded as he usually is. in other words: noctis got it in one.]

Nah.

It's been a long day.

[but his eyes still don't linger over his best friend, guiltily looking away]

[ That very cautious gaze is really all he needs, but the visible fluster definitely seals the assumption. Noctis purses his lips as he leans back into the couch, pulling his legs up and crossing them. He starts to dig his fork into his cheesecake and looks away from Prompto. ]

Lying.

[his plea is a quiet one, but it could be the loudest thing in the room]

Could we not?

[he doesn't want to have this kind of conversation. he knows he's bad at hiding how he feels, and he doesn't want to have to keep up appearances for his best friend. he's tired enough as it were.]

[ That...

Okay, that makes him worry. Prompto wears his heart on his sleeve. It's not at all normal for him to close up and shut him out. And even in the month's time they've known each other, Noctis has been around him enough to know this isn't right. He's granted Prompto's requests to change the subject before, but it's never really gotten to an extent where he's this sure something is wrong. ]

So... That's not like you.

[ He sets down his plate by leaning forward towards the coffee table, then leans back. Noctis keeps his eyes on the TV for now. ]

I'd drop it, but you're kinda worrying me.

Edited 2017-07-25 23:00 (UTC)

[that's unfair]

You don't wanna know about this, Noct. I'm just tired. Promise.

[ He really hates pushing, but after the conversation they had? He's a bit worried that this has to do with the whole conversation about money. And Noctis is heavily regretting the suggestion he had made for his birthday and that friendversary thing. It's also been established that there are no secrets between them, so... his assumption seems right.

Prompto's upset with him. That's gotta be it.

He sort of curls in on himself internally, a bit upset. ]

Not true but... Alright. I guess.

[ a pause. ]

Sorry.

[the unfortunate thing about noctis is that when he's upset, he sounds upset. it's impossible for prompto to miss it. even with some cheesecake leftover, he sets it down on the floor. rufus appears from behind the couch and starts eating--prompto's fine with that. he's probably had too much already.]

And now you're upset with me. Great.

[berating himself for the most part]

You don't need to apologize.

Edited 2017-07-25 23:17 (UTC)

Me? You're the one shutting me out.

[ Noctis sounds a bit insulted there, finally turning to look at Prompto. ]

I told you I'd hold off on the whole spending thing. But you've been off ever since we talked about it. Is that what you're being awkward about?

What? It has nothing to do with the money stuff. You can spend as much as you want as long as you're willing. We came to an agreement already, didn't we?

[so, it's not about the money]

[and prompto looks like he wants to say more, but his throat is inexplicably dry]

I don't want you to worry about me.

Too late for that now, isn't it?

[ Noctis doesn't sound mad, but he surely sounds frustrated. Knowing that it has nothing to do with their previous conversation doesn't help. In fact, it makes him worry more. So, he sighs, turning around to face Prompto even though he's horrible at talking. It's because he cares about Prompto that he does this. ]

What's going on?

[it hits him like a bucket of cold water, at noctis's words of it being too late for him to not worry about prompto. it softens something inside him, the concrete walls he's been trying to build up so nothing comes spilling out and his vulnerabilities make him seem desperate and foolish.]

[prompto hesitantly turns to look at noctis, although he doesn't keep his gaze for long.]

...there's always something going on with me. Sorry you got signed up for the shittiest friendship ever.

[ Noctis knits his brow and greatly swats at Prompto's shoulder. ]

That's insulting.

I wouldn't be friends with you if I didn't think it was worth it. Is that what this is about?

[words are words, in the end]

I'll never not appreciate being your friend, Noct. ...and that you actually want to be my friend, and are, of course.

[he doesn't react to the swatting, just about leans to the other side. etro climbs down onto his lap, and prompto pets her fluffy head]

It's just...

You'll be right to replace me, at some point. I'm not that great.

[ That seriously breaks his heart. He isn't the best at expressing himself, and it may only barely show in the way he slightly frowns. But how in the world can he feel this way? Noctis knows he has low self-esteem, he's listened to him explain why he thinks so low of himself, but he was also in excruciating pain and could barely wrap his head around words.

Hearing that Prompto is so keen on being replaced, he just...

Noctis sighs. He stands up and starts walking over to the kitchen. ]

Hold on.

[ He pulls out a drawer, containing a pretty thick folder. When he walks over, he holds it out for Prompto to take. Noctis doesn't really want to go this route, but he isn't sure what else he can say to get the point across. ]

Wasn't gonna show you, but here.

[ Should Prompto open it, he'll find that it's all of Noctis' medical records from his extended stay. It's fat with brain scans, documentation, prescriptions and notes. He speaks as he walks back to the couch and sits down. ]

Page 13 of the daily observations. Read it.

[prompto turns in surprise to see noctis get up and around to the kitchen, only to bring out a folder--a pretty thick one at that. prompto's never been privy to most of the cupboards in the kitchen, so it's not surprising it escaped his radar.]

[the whole "wasn't gonna show you" catches his attention immediately, too, and although he hesitates to take it, not knowing to expect, the first page clearly kills that mystery.]

...from, from your stay in hospital?

[it feels like too much; every single answer he wanted to his questions while looking over noctis at the hospital, on his lap, waiting to be read.]

[he reads through a couple of the first pages, but at the insistence for page 13, prompto quickly flips over to it. doctor's observations, brain scans, brain activity... he goes through the pictures, not quite understanding them until he reads the doctor's scribbles. daily annotations. increase in brain activity, the significance of the color changes in the scans, going from nearly dead to a healthy increase after a couple of days.]

[prompto's eyes are wide and there's the sting of incoming tears blurring what he sees]

What... what does this mean...

[he knows the answer, he just cannot fathom it]

[ He absolutely hates talking about his condition, but this is where they are now. Noctis feels a twist in his gut because putting what happened into words is extremely difficult. He's still terrified, traumatized to this day. But he can't let it hold him back from living his life. He's too young for that. Noctis crosses his legs again on the couch, visibly tense as he stares at the floor. ]

Before you found me, I had a... Pretty awful seizure. Ah--

[ He clears his throat, gesturing at his neck. ]

Choked on my saliva a bit and... My brain lost a lot of oxygen. Couple that with he seizure itself, and... Yeah.

[ Then, he points to the folder. ]

Go to page 6.

[he studies noctis's expression for a moment, feels himself reliving the awful scene he walked into on that fateful night. his eyes return to the document, and he flips back to page six.]

[initial diagnosis and estimate lifespan]

[the diagnosis isn't too clear, at least because prompto isn't too savvy over this matters. besides, it sounds like the doctor himself has a hard time figuring out what exactly is the issue, other than seizure, brain cut off from oxygen, some sort of lung functionality problems...]

[prompto's eyes skim over to estimated lifespan: three to four days, a week at most.]

[noctis wasn't meant to have made it alive from his coma]

[his eyes are transfixed on that, and without even thinking it, prompto's finds noctis's hand in his own, holding tight. it feels like he's back in the hospital room, not knowing anything and fearing the worst; of losing his best friend, a person so important to prompto he didn't know what to do with himself for all those months. holding noctis's hand is just one way for him to anchor himself into believing things would turn out alright]

[tears are already wetting his cheeks, one and two drops falling onto the paper, as prompto rereads the statement]

[ Noctis has had his fair share of shed tears. In the privacy of his home, of course, and not really in front of Prompto. He feels his throat tighten, and it only seems to get worse when Prompto takes his hand. He doesn't deny the gesture, and even goes so far as to tighten his hand around his. Hardly the response when he was comatose. ]

I think there've been studies that... Talking to someone in a coma helps the brain function. Something about forcing it to work? I don't know.

[ Noctis isn't looking at Prompto. He can't. ]

What I do know is that you were there. Don't remember anything you said, but... I recognized your voice when I woke up.

It's kinda impossible to replace someone who saved your life.

So...

Thought you'd like to know that.

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