bruises on my knees for you

[lineof]

[It's days like these- when he's pulled out of class early for Official Business and returns to his apartment without Prompto in tow- that Noctis realizes just how quiet it really is with just him. Without the usual stream of excited (or school-related despairing) chatter he's left with just the hum of his various appliances and his thoughts... Not exactly his favourite afternoon soundtrack, if he's being honest, and even less appealing when said thoughts are cluttered with a hellish mix of exams and political tidbits; frankly he isn't even sure what he's supposed to do with the latter, and he can't help wondering what about it merited dragging him out mid-lecture.

He'll be dodging extra stares and whispers for at least a week now, he's sure. Dammit...

The one and only benefit to this situation is that it'd earned him an extra hour of relative freedom: there'd have been no point in going past his apartment to return to class for fifteen minutes and so he'd shot Prompto a text letting him know to just head over once his sentence is up.

...Two hours ago, he realizes as he checks his phone with a frown. It's not like Prompto to be this late (at least without a sorry, dude, omw now, because he's good like that), and so Noct can't help the twinge of concern as he reopens their conversation to check for a missed message that isn't there.

Ten more minutes, he decides. Ten more minutes and then he'll see what's up.]

Comments

[lineof]

[As impatient as he'd been- which he of course realizes too late was probably a dick move on his part- he doesn't continue press as Prompto works himself up to say what he's gonna say. He actually feels a little guilty himself as he watches his friend curl up like that- a gesture that would seem completely alien and out of place on someone as exuberant as Prompto if Noct didn't know him so well- but he can't quite force the never mind out of his mouth. Because it has to be important, if it's this hard to spit out. Isn't that how everything always is...?

In any case, he nods in silent promise not to lose his cool again, noting but not drawing attention to the way Prompto can't meet his eyes... Though when all is said and done it takes him a few moments for it to sink in.]

You basically slugged someone because they were talking shit about me.

[It's obviously not a question and so it doesn't carry the burden of an answer, but Noct does look a little... Lost.

He's quiet for a bit as he tries to wrap his head around that. Prompto- honestly one of the most relaxed people he knows as far as interpersonal shit is concerned- got fed up to the point of punching someone on his behalf? Face flushing he ducks his head somewhat, lifting a hand to the back of his neck and feeling faintly embarrassed even though he can't place precisely why.]

...Wow. Wow, uh-- okay. [Killin' it. Unlike most of the people in his life Prompto has no obligation to defend him, and so even though he knows nothing good can really come of this he can't help feeling... He doesn't know. He's not happy about it, really, but he can't exactly condemn Prompto either when there's a non-zero chance that, if anyone at school had the balls to say shit to his face, he'd have done the same thing.

And as stupid a reaction on his part as it is... He also can't help appreciating the gesture for what it was, even if he has no goddamn way of articulating that in a way that says both thank you for caring and don't do that shit again in equal measure.

And so he settles for an attempt at lightening the mood instead, the least he feels he can do for the moment, especially with that pleading look Prompto's giving him. Dropping his hand to his lap he nudges at Prompto's foot with his leg and flashes him a tentative grin.] You at least get a few good hits in?

[He couldn't give a shit less about what was said- he's not deaf and every so often the whispers reach his ears whether he acknowledges it or not- but the fact remains that the guy's been begging for someone to rearrange his face since the beginning of freshman year... But forget about his own honor. If Prompto knocked a few of his teeth out he did a public service to the rest of the school and that Noct can get on board with.]

[messofhangups]

( There's a small shrug at Noct's summary of events. And yeah, when put that way... well... Prompto's pretty sure he's done nothing but given more fuel for the rumors regarding his relationship with Noctis. Not that he could really change any of that now — not that he would really want to he realizes. Maybe it was stupid and there's the vague I should want to take it back, but deep down... he kind of doesn't.

And he watches as Noct takes in the revelation, the flush across his face. The way his hand rubs his neck and Prompto has to swallow against the sudden dryness in his throat. It all feels... like everything has started to feel with Noct lately. This sort of haze of confusion of emotions that he's not even sure how to classify.

But then Noctis breaks the moment — for which Prompto is grateful because it means he's not going to ask specifics — and he huffs a bit of a laugh, kind of self depreciating at the question. There's a shake of his head. ) Yeaaaaaah... not really.... ( Another small laugh but he perks up a little and grins. ) I did knee him in the junk though. ( Cheap as hell, and while it's all kind of a blur he remembers that, being pinned against the wall knowing shit was about to get worse and the only thing he could think of was to jam his knee up into Alec's crotch. Prompto tilts his head to the side a bit. ) Think Gladio would teach me how to punch? ( And he's really only about half joking. It's not that he wants to go pick fights now but there's the small tug of a thought. What if Noct had been there. What if someone burst through the door right freaking now and while he knows Noct is more than capable — more than he himself is — what if one day it came down to him to protect Noctis and he couldn't. A fact that was more than apparently clear to him now. )

[lineof]

[It's true that things have been a little off between them lately, but for Noct's part he's passing it off as just his own moodiness putting a strain on things as usual. There's only so many meetings and briefings and political whatsits a guy can take before it starts to take a toll on his social life, and lately it's been nearly non-stop... And not the kind of stuff he can just brush off, either, no matter how much he'd like to sleep or study. He's just tired, basically, that has to be it. It's a perfectly reasonable explanation for... Things.

Fortunately those 'things' aren't something he has to worry about right this second. Right now he's gonna laugh and be pleased that, while not enough to qualify as 'getting a good hit in', Prompto'd at least managed to leave his mark in some way.]

Dirty, [he says, cringing in spite of himself. He's been on the (unintended) receiving end of Prompto's bony goddamn knees before so he can only imagine...] But it serves his ass right.

[Moving on... Because this is Noct (and because of the circumstances surrounding it), the real reason Prompto's asking about self-defense doesn't even cross his mind... But even if it did, the answer would be the same:]

Anyway, the Big Guy? Yeah, he'd probably be down. [And because he just can't help himself when it comes to Gladio:] Pretty sure he gets off on knocking people around, so all you gotta do is ask.

i am totally avoiding work today, can you tell lol

[messofhangups]

( There's a grin as Noct laughs — something not as rare as it had been in the early days of their friendship, but something that still manages to feel as special to Prompto as it had back then, still manages to spread a warmth through him. And if he let himself think about it too long he'd know that wasn't exactly... normal probably. That really nothing of this was. So it's something he very much doesn't let himself think about too long. Instead just letting himself enjoy the sound of it, the feeling it invokes.

His eyes — or at least the one he can open — widen at the mention of just asking Gladio. Right. Because he's managed to say all of about five words to Gladio since first meeting him. He lifts the bag of peas and presses them back to his face, a slight wince at the contact before he gives Noct a cheeky grin. )

Ooooor... you could ask for me? Since I defended your honour and everything? ( Yes, he went there. )

s a m e man.... same........

[lineof]

[Noctis frowns at the obvious wince, willing the anger away when it threatens to bubble back up again. While he would still absolutely love to pay Alec back in full... He isn't going to, both because it'd be a bad move socially and politically and also because it's clear Prompto doesn't want him to. Going along with that is the least he can do.

But maybe not the only thing.]

Ohhh, I see how it is. [QUID PRO QUO, CLARICE.] ...But yeah. I'll ask him.

[He'll probably agree anyway just because that's the kind of guy he is, but hey- if Prompto turns out to be some kind of combat prodigy that's less Gladio's gotta worry about, right?]

[messofhangups]

( He grins as Noct agrees. ) Thanks, dude, you're totally my hero.

( Says the one who just literally got in a fight for aforementioned honour defending.

There's a pause, his lips press together as he realizes just how easily and quickly Noct had agreed, the path his thoughts were starting to take written all over his face. Just how much could he milk this for all it was worth... )

Hey, Noct? ( The segue coming off way too innocent sounding. ) Think you could like — do my math homework for me? Everything's kind of, you know, blurry - one eye and all. ( He was being terrible and he knew it. )

[lineof]

[Oh yeah, Noctis can absolutely see where Prompto's headed with this. To his credit he at least manages to keep a straight face through the request, even appears to be considering it...

For a moment, anyway.]

Well, when you put it like that... [Noct smirks, leaning back across the couch with crossed arms.] Not a chance in hell.

[Math homework is like full-body cast level at least. Noct doesn't make the rules, that's just how it is.]

[messofhangups]

( There's a fake indignation as Noct refuses the request — not that he had really been expecting anything else. And he huffs a little and tosses the bag of peas at Noct's chest. )

So rude, friendship over.

( Emptiest threat ever as he falls back to lay on the couch again. )

[lineof]

[THEM'S FIGHTIN'S PEAS, SON!]

Ugh! [SO OFFENDED, Noctis swats the peas away with the practiced ease of someone who's suffered at Gladio's hand for many, many hours.

This is it, this is what Prompto has to look forward to if his request is accepted.

Sighing dramatically, Noctis shakes his head.] Never thought it'd be math homework tearing us apart.

Or peas, [he says, grabbing them from where they'd landed and in one swift motion shoving them fully up and under Prompto's shirt.

Any other time he'd probably have tossed them right back... But he thinks Prompto's had enough actual injury for one day.

Freezing torture, on the other hand...]