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Ignis sighs as he rifles through his bag, glad to find today's reports there.  His date tonight went so badly that he knows if he goes straight home, he'll just stew about it and wonder whether it was his fault after all.

Instead, the reports give him an excuse to stop by Noctis's apartment.  It's his usual game night with Prompto, so he'll certainly be home.  Perhaps Ignis will let himself get sucked into a couple of rounds of Kupo Kart and forget all about his unfortunate love life.

When he arrives, sure enough, Prompto and Noctis are on the couch and Kupo Kart is on the TV.  It appears that Noctis has won their match -- he's laughing, and Prompto is shoving him as if annoyed.  The look on Prompto's face is anything but, though, so Ignis knows it's all in good fun.

At the sound of him taking off his shoes, Noctis looks over the back of the couch, furrowing his brow.  "Ignis?  Didn't you have a date tonight?"

"I did," he says with a sigh.  "It didn't go very well, so I thought I'd use my time more productively and bring you the reports His Majesty wanted you to read."

Noct sets his controller down and comes around to lean against the wall of the kitchen.  "Was he a dick?  Do I have to beat someone up?"

"No, nothing like that," he says, setting the reports on the table.  "He was just…immensely dull.  Or perhaps he thought I was dull.  It was rather difficult to tell."

"Too stupid to hold a conversation with?" Noctis asks, grinning.

Ignis can't help smiling a little.  Now that he's a bit further removed from the situation, it does seem a bit funny.  "I told him I work at the Citadel, and he said, 'Wow, that big pointy place?  Isn't it tall?'"

Even Prompto snorts at that one.  "Where did you find this guy?"

"A very unfortunate dating app that I shall not be using any longer," Ignis says.  "I would much rather pass the time with the two of you than with him."

"You can have my next turn with Kupo Kart," Prompto offers.  "I need a bathroom break anyway."

Much later, after quite a few rounds of Kupo Kart, Ignis has recovered his good mood.  He offers Prompto a ride home, and relaxes in the routine of driving a familiar route.

Beside him, though, Prompto seems agitated.  Not necessarily in a bad way, but Ignis gets the feeling there's something Prompto wants to say to him.

They're about halfway to Prompto's place when he finally speaks up.  "So," Prompto says, rubbing his palms against his jeans, "do you only date guys?"

Ignis's eyes flick to him briefly, then back to the road.  He thought surely Noctis would have mentioned Ignis's preference by now, or Prompto would have otherwise found out; it's not as if it's a secret.  "Generally speaking, yes.  I would not entirely exclude the possibility of some day dating a woman, but my preference is for men.  Does that bother you?"  He doesn't think it will, given how often he's seen Prompto fawning over the male lead in his favorite game franchise, or the way he's seen Prompto surreptitiously looking at certain people.

"No!" Prompto yelps, waving his hands, setting that worry to rest.  "I mean, no, of course not.  I just-- I wanted to-- I mean, I kind of, maybeIlikeguystoo.  Sometimes."

Ignis takes a moment to replay Prompto's last few words and sort them out.  "Ah," he says, when he does, a smile tugging at his lips.  Apparently learning of Ignis's preference has given Prompto the courage to come out to him.  "I'm not surprised."

Prompto blinks.  "You're not?"

Chuckling, Ignis says, "I've seen your eyes wandering a time or two when you come by the training hall and wondered.  I don't blame you -- anyone with an inkling of interest in men is likely taking a second look at Nyx Ulric.  And last week at the pool…"

Last week at the pool, Prompto had walked in and stared for a solid thirty seconds at Noctis and Gladio splashing each other, his eyes wide as they wandered down from their faces.  Which one of them he was eyeing Ignis wasn't sure, but he couldn't blame Prompto for having an appreciation of two men in their prime.

"Right, um, yeah," Prompto says, more flustered by the moment.  "So.  I guess I'm, uh.  Bisexual?"

The uncertainty in his voice, and how flustered and nervous he seems tell a story in themselves.  "Am I the first person you've told?" Ignis asks gently.

"Y-- Yeah.  I just thought, since you were dating guys, that you would, you know.  Understand."  Prompto looks down at his hands and picks at a bit of dry skin near his nail.

Of course.  Ignis understands the desire to come out to someone who is guaranteed to react well.  Still, he wonders: "Are you planning to tell Noctis?"

Prompto glances at him, then away again.  "I wanted to, but…"

"I assure you, he will be fine with it," Ignis says.  "He barely blinked when I told him I was bringing another boy as my date to one of his birthday balls, several years ago."

"You guys are like brothers, though, so it's different," Prompto mumbles.  "I don't want him to think that I'm coming on to him or something, or like I expect something from him.  But then I can't cut that off by telling him I'm totally not interested in him and never will be, because I-- Um."

Ah, because Prompto is interested in Noctis.  "I see," he says, slowing to turn onto Prompto's street while he thinks about how to reply.  Now that he has confirmation of Prompto's interest in men, it's hardly a surprise.  Prompto may treat Noctis like just another friend when they're together, but Ignis has always known that Prompto practically worships the ground Noctis walks on.

"Sorry," Prompto says awkwardly.

"There's no harm in having feelings," Ignis assures him as he pulls up in front of Prompto's building.  "I don't think Noct will think you're coming on to him if you tell him you're bisexual."  He's not sure Noctis would recognize someone coming on to him even if they were laying it on thickly, to be honest.  Noctis has always been rather oblivious to his admirers.

Prompto worries at his lower lip.  "Do you think he-- I mean, I know he's way out of my league, and anyway he's probably totally straight, right?"

"I honestly have no idea," Ignis says, thinking it through.  "I've never heard Noct express any interest in dating, with people of any gender.  He and Lady Lunafreya are pen pals, but they've been friends since childhood, and he's never given any indication it goes further than that.  You're the only other person he knows well enough to mention by name.  I would have thought that if he'd had crushes, he would've talked to you about it rather than me."

"Nope, definitely not.  He turned down every single person who asked him out in high school.  Do you think he's just… not interested at all?  In anyone?"

"It's possible," Ignis says.  He's never really discussed it with him, but now that the thought is there, he can't deny that it seems reasonable.  "It's also possible he's kept his feelings close to the chest because of the public nature of his position.  You could ask him, you know."

"Or I could just bury myself in my chocobo blanket and never come out again," Prompto says with a sigh.  "Thanks for the ride, Iggy.  Hope your next date goes better than this one did!"

"As do I," Ignis chuckles.  "Have a good night, Prompto."

Ignis thinks about it while he drives home.  Could Noctis and Prompto become a couple?  There would certainly be some barriers to overcome, with the politicians on the council and possibly with the media.  But if Noctis really isn't interested in romance at all, then he can only hope Prompto accepts it with aplomb.

*

Gladio grabs a towel, wiping the sweat from his face before slinging it over his shoulders and sitting down in the grass.  Beside him, Noct is chugging a bottle of water, his sword having disappeared back to the armiger the moment their spar was done.

If Noct didn't have anything to talk to him about, he would've already gone back inside to shower before going home.  The fact that he's sitting here tells Gladio that there's something eating him.

"Alright, out with it," he says, stretching out his legs.

Noct looks at him, then away again.  "Out with what?"

"I know you got something on your mind.  I'm listening."  Sometimes prodding Noct works, but sometimes it just pisses him off.  Gladio's trying to find a balance here, because Noct has been doing so well with everything lately, really finding his way into adulthood, and he deserves respect for that.  At the same time, though, he wishes Noct would just spit out whatever he has to say without Gladio having to pussyfoot around it for an hour.

Noct is silent for a minute, while Gladio stretches out his hamstrings.  Then, finally, he says, "What's it feel like?  To-- to have a crush on someone."

Gladio stares at him.  Noct isn't meeting his eyes, and his cheeks are a little red, and that means he's not joking.  "You're almost twenty," he finds himself saying.

Noct glares.  "So?  If you don't want to tell me, then just don't."

Holding up his hands, Gladio says, "I didn't say I wouldn't.  I was just surprised.  Would've thought you'd figured it out by now."

"I dunno.  I never really thought about it much."

Huh.  "It's like butterflies in your stomach," he says, after a long moment.  "Like being around the person makes you nervous but it's exciting, and you want to see them all the time.  Be close to them.  That kind of thing."

Noct leans back in the grass, picking at one of the blades.  "But not the same as when you have a friend you want to hang out with."

"You don't generally want to kiss the friends you're hanging out with," Gladio says.

Noct's nose wrinkles, and he doesn't say anything.  Gladio nudges his shoulder.  "Who's this about?  I didn't think you met anyone new lately."

"It's not someone new."  Noct's face goes red.  "I just…it didn't used to feel like this, to be around him."

Gladio blinks.  "Him?"

"I-- I mean…"  Noct's eyes widen in panic, but Gladio keeps his face calm and blank and eventually he calms down.  "Yeah.  Him."

A guy who's not new, who Noct wants to be around all the time.  "It's not Ignis, right?"

Noct smacks his arm.  "No!  Gods, Ignis is like my brother.  Ugh."

Well, that only really leaves one option, given how few people Noct really spends much time with, but he waits for Noct to spit it out himself.

"...It's Prompto," he finally admits.  Yeah, that tracks.  Noct and Prompto have been inseparable for years, and Prompto's the only person Noct has ever sought out and made the time for when he didn't have to.  "I mean, I always liked him, but lately… I dunno."

Noct has never been one to talk about his feelings much, so for him to even be bringing this to Gladio means it's pretty serious.  Still, Gladio wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't needle Noct about it at least a little.  "So you graduated from high school and he changed his hair and started wearing tank tops and now you want to get in his pants?"

Gladio dodges before Noct can hit him, laughing.  "Shut up," Noct complains, but after they're done tussling, he drops his head into his hands and mumbles, "What do I do?"

"You don't have to do anything, if you don't want to."

"I can't stop thinking about him though.  How am I supposed to-- I can't pay attention in council meetings, and now that he's training with the Crownsguard he's there all the time, and I walked straight into Councilman Traxos the other day because I wasn't paying attention.  I can't live like this, Gladio.  You gotta help me."

Noct looks pathetic; Gladio bursts out laughing.  "Okay, okay," he says when he catches his breath.  "Look, why not just talk to him about it?"

"I can barely talk to you about it!"

Okay, that's fair.  "You want me to feel him out?  See if he might be into you?"

"Would you?"  Noct looks hopeful for a second, then his face falls again.  "This is so dumb."

Gladio smacks him on the back.  "One way or another, it'll all work out fine.  You'll see."

"Thanks, Gladio," Noct says, quietly enough that Gladio knows he means it.

*

The cafe where Ignis and Gladio have lunch on Tuesdays isn't particularly busy this week.  It's a good thing, because Ignis doesn't want to broach this subject where someone might overhear and report it back to the tabloids.  "Tell me," he says, when their server has brought their meals, "has Noctis ever spoken to you of any…romantic inclinations?"

Gladio chokes on his sandwich, and has to take a few long drinks of water.  Ignis hadn't thought it was that shocking of a question, but perhaps Gladio's misunderstood his intent.  He's about to clarify when Gladio says, "He talked to you about Prompto too?"

Ignis blinks at him for a moment.  Too?   About Prompto?  "I haven't spoken to him, no.  Did he say something to you?"

"Shit," Gladio mutters.  "If he didn't talk to you I probably shouldn't say.  Why are you asking?"

The possibilities of what this could mean run through Ignis's head too quickly to enumerate.  Of course he intends to keep Prompto's confidence, but if Gladio has been talking to Noctis specifically about Prompto and romance, then surely it's in everyone's best interests for them to  be forthcoming, is it not?  "Prompto and I were noting that Noctis has never expressed romantic interest in anyone before," he says.  "We wondered what his preferences might be, or whether he might not be completely uninterested."

"Huh," Gladio says.  "Well, he's not completely uninterested, that's for sure.  He came to talk to me about it yesterday, actually."

"About Prompto," Ignis says, repeating Gladio's own words to him.  Gladio's lips press into a line.  "Let's be candid, Gladio.  Of course we want to protect confidences, but I suspect in this case that will be counterproductive.  I believe Prompto has romantic feelings for Noctis, but he has no confidence that Noctis could possibly return those feelings.  As I've never heard Noctis express the slightest bit of interest in anyone, I wasn't able to offer him any useful counsel."

Gladio finishes chewing the next bite of his sandwich, swallows, and takes a drink before he replies.  "Noct has it so bad for Prompto he's practically walking into walls because he's mooning about him," he says, startling Ignis into inhaling some of his iced coffee.  "I told him I'd check it out and see if Prompto might feel the same.  It's like he's going through puberty six years late.  I don't think he's ever had a crush on anyone before and it's freaking him out."

"Well," Ignis says when he recovers himself.  "What are our next steps, then?"

"Our next steps?  Those dumbasses need to talk to each other."

"You know talking about his feelings has never been Noct's strong suit."  Gladio's not wrong, though.  "Meanwhile Prompto may be too convinced that Noctis is 'out of his league' to even make the attempt.  Well, if Noctis was motivated enough to ask you for advice, perhaps we'd best start with him.  If he's not willing to talk about it, what options do we have?"

There's silence as they both ponder the issue.  The answer comes to Ignis all of a sudden, and he can see that it's come to Gladio at the same moment.  In unison, they both say: "Courtship!"

*

"Your Majesty," Scientia says, after he's bundled the signed documents into his briefcase.

"Yes?"  It's early afternoon, so Regis is in no hurry.  Scientia typically brings up business issues during their meetings, though, so he can't imagine what would have him lingering like this.

"Do you have any idea why my nephew has been asking me about royal courtship rituals?"

Regis stares at him in surprise.  Ignis has been asking about courtship rituals?

Behind him, Clarus coughs.  "Gladiolus has asked me about it, as well."

"I'm sorry," Regis says.  "Do you mean to tell me that Ignis and Gladiolus are both trying to court my son?"

Clarus laughs, so it must not be that, at least.  "I suspect," Scientia says, "that Ignis is attempting to provide the information to His Highness, that he might…make some use of it, perhaps."

Regis leans forward, resting his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand.  "My son, formally courting someone?  But who?"

"Guess we'll have to wait and see," Clarus says.

"I shall be interested to find out as well."  Scientia smiles.  "I take it that I have your permission to provide him with all of the details?"

"By all means," Regis says, grinning.  "I can't wait to see what Noctis does."

*

"Courtship typically begins by asking permission from the person's parents," Ignis says, handing a paper to Noctis.  "However, Prompto's parents are…difficult to locate at best.  So I don't believe that's an option."

Noctis looks over the list of traditional courtship gifts and activities.  "Two gold coins, to be delivered by a third party?" he reads.  "Ignis, I don't know if this is such a good idea."

"Well, you can always just tell him how you feel," Gladio says, stuffing a handful of chips in his mouth.

"Hey, give me some of those."  Noctis keeps reading while he eats.  The thought of trying to tell Prompto about his crush, or worse, ask him out on a date, is more overwhelming than buying a bunch of random things to give him.  Prompto ought to be familiar enough with the courtship process from popular media to recognize what's going on, saving Noctis from having to say anything about it out loud.

"I'm sure you could substitute modern equivalents for the gifts.  I'm told your father gave your mother a pair of coin-shaped earrings."

"Dad did all this?  Really?  Did he write her poetry and love letters?"

"Yup," Gladio says.  "My dad said they were really bad.  Good thing your mom already liked him so it was just a formality."

Noctis groans.  "It's not a formality for me.   Prompto's gonna think this is so dumb.  Maybe I shouldn't bother."

"Maybe you should man up and talk to him."

"Boys, please," Ignis says.  "Noct, I don't think Prompto will think it's 'dumb.'  He always finds all of your royal duties fascinating."

Noctis can just imagine how Prompto will react to Ignis handing him a couple of gold coins and telling him they're a gift from his prince.  Prompto will have that adorable confused look on his face, then he'll say, Uh, okay, I guess? and take them, and maybe later he'll ask Noctis, Hey, Iggy gave me those coins and said they were from you.  Not sure what they're for but thanks, I guess!   Then at some point after the next few gifts, he'll get a clue, and…

He sighs.  Prompto's so cute sometimes.  "Alright, fine.  Modern equivalents.  I got this."  He grabs a pencil and starts scribbling down ideas.

*

"I believe the courtship is in progress," Clarus says, a couple of weeks later.  "I overheard Gladiolus on the phone complaining about having to deliver a gold chocobo keychain."

"Chocobos, hmm?" Regis says, signing his name to another piece of paperwork.  "Do we know who Noctis is courting?  He hasn't said a word to me about it, though I expect I'll find out when he asks for an exhibition match with the Kingsglaive if he continues to keep quiet.  He's always been a much more private person than me.  I'm sure by his age I'd been photographed in a number of compromising situations."

Clarus snorts.  "Would've been even more if we hadn't kept you out of trouble," he says.  "You're lucky you met Aulea before you sired any royal bastards."

"That's beside the point."

"Yeah, yeah.  I think it's that friend of his, Argentum."

Regis raises his eyebrows.  "I didn't realize Noctis was interested in men.  Perhaps that's why he hasn't been forthcoming about his romantic inclinations.  It will complicate the matter of succession, and cause some stir among the council.  They aren't aware of the courtship yet, are they?"

"I don't think so.  It's still early if he's having Gladiolus and Ignis deliver tokens for him."

"Hm.  Argentum…He's in Crownsguard training now, isn't he?"

"He is.  Cor tells me he's fast and he's good with guns, though he still has a long way to go in everything else."

"Perhaps I might take a trip down to the training hall to observe sometime…"

*

Prompto straps his fingerless gloves into place and bounces on his toes a couple of times.  This is the first time he's been included in the Crownsguard's quarterly skills competition, and he's probably going to totally suck, but hey, at least he's made it far enough in his training to qualify.  It's not like the Crownsguard has much of an audience for this, unlike the public exhibitions the Kingsglaive does which may as well be a sporting event.  No, it's just him and his fellow recruits in the beginner's level, the other Crownsguard who aren't on active assignments in the senior level, and Cor overseeing, plus whatever Citadel employees or visitors happen to be in the area and wander by.

And Noct, because Noct said he was coming, though Prompto hasn't seen him yet.  He seeks out Ignis in the senior group to give him a wave and a thumbs up, then tries to focus on taking a few deep breaths and shaking out his tension.  Gladio's exempt because he's on duty guarding Noct, but Prompto knows that Ignis has won the dagger proficiency contest every quarter for the last three years running.  It's a little intimidating to know that he's trying to get assigned to the same level of role that Gladio and Ignis have -- royal protection duty -- but for Noct, he's gonna do whatever it takes.

"Prompto!"

Speaking of Noct, Prompto turns around to find him running down from the viewing area.  "Noct?  You didn't have to come down here, dude," he says, when Noct reaches him.

"I did," Noct says.  "Gimme your arm."

Prompto frowns.  "What?"

"Your arm, gimme your arm.  They're gonna start in a minute so I have to--  Here, come on."  Noct grabs Prompto's arm, and starts tying a black cloth onto his bicep.

"What--?  What's this for?"

Noct finishes a double knot so the cloth won't fall off, then steps back.  His face is a little red, probably from running all the way here.  "It's a, um.  A token of my favor."

Prompto laughs.  "What, like in those old-time-y jousting movies?"

Noct looks pained.  "Yeah, like that.  Good luck, okay?"

Sketching him a short bow, Prompto says, "This humble knight will be Your Highness's champion!  But you'll wish you picked someone else when I eat dirt in the sword fighting competition."

"You'll do fine," Noct says, punching him in the arm where he tied the cloth.  A whistle blows, and Prompto straightens up to attention.  "Guess I better go.  Knock 'em dead, Prompto!"

Prompto supposes the token of Noct's favor is just one more of those weird Noct things he's been doing lately, like sending him funny little gifts via Ignis and Gladio, or showing unannounced up at Prompto's apartment with enough takeout to feed an army.  He can't deny that it feels good to know Noct is thinking about him, even if the other recruits are side-eyeing him.

He's definitely gonna eat dirt in sword fighting, but he thinks he can do Noct proud in target accuracy, at least, and maybe the hundred meter dash.  It might just be a silly piece of cloth, but he'll do his best to earn Noct's favor.

*

Regis finds Noctis observing the Crownsguard skills competition, Gladiolus at his side.  "Noctis," he greets him, as Gladiolus executes a very correct bow.

"Huh?  Oh, hi, Dad."  Clearly distracted, Noctis is looking down at the recruits in the training hall.  Regis follows his gaze and finds Prompto Argentum, with a black cloth tied around his arm, getting his ass kicked at hand-to-hand combat.

"You've reached stage two, then?" he observes mildly, then has to choke back a laugh as Noctis jerks upright and flushes.  Behind him, Clarus isn't as good at hiding his amusement.  Down below, Prompto gets knocked out of the sparring circle and loses his match.

"Um," Noctis says.  "I, uh."

"Your mother was excellent at hand-to-hand, did you know that?  She was a fourth degree black belt in traditional Lucian martial arts.  Never did get the hang of weapons, though."

The recruits are rotating through stations, and once he's picked himself up off the ground and shaken his partner's hand, Prompto heads to his next rotation, accuracy shooting.  Noctis's hands close on the railing of the balcony and squeeze.  "Prompto's good at shooting," he mumbles.

Regis gives his son a break from his needling as he watches the event, studying Noctis's choice of partner.  Prompto appears much more comfortable with a gun in his hand than he did in the previous event, and he takes out the targets with ease, no sign of hesitation or unsteadiness.  He pretends not to notice Noctis cheering quietly when Prompto hits the most difficult target.

"How long have you and he been involved?"

This time, it's Gladiolus who muffles laughter.  "Oh," Noctis says.  "We're, uh.   We're not really…yet?  That's why, you know, the-- the courtship."

Behind Noctis, Gladiolus is covering his face with his hand to compose himself.  Regis's lips quirk into a smile.  "Ah.  You intend to win him over with gifts and demonstrations of your skills.  Have you spoken with Captain Drautos about scheduling an exhibition match yet?  Or are you intending to skip ahead to poetry and correspondence first?"

Down below, Prompto high-fives one of the other recruits, then glances up at Noctis and gives him finger guns.  Noctis grins at him and waves back.  When Prompto moves on to his next rotation, Noctis turns to Regis and says, "I was going to talk to Drautos next week.  It doesn't have to be televised, does it?  Or have a huge audience?"

"Given how little His Highness is in the public eye, I think the people of Insomnia would appreciate seeing it," Clarus says.  "I don't believe the tabloids have caught on to the courtship yet, but it will be difficult to keep it quiet much longer.  The Crownsguard and Kingsglaive gossip like fishwives, and anyone who knows anything about it will recognize that token you gave him today."

"Maybe they'll give Prompto a clue," Gladio rumbles.

"Shut up," Noctis hisses, elbowing him.  "The Prince's Favor is one of his favorite movies.  Courtship is half the plot of that one.  He's probably just…being Prompto about it."

"Why am I not surprised blondie likes romcoms?"

"For the exhibition match," Regis interrupts, "you wouldn't have to ask for a token from him on camera, even if it's televised.  I do think it would be good for the people to see you, though, son, and Captain Drautos will surely select an opponent who will show you to your best advantage."

"Fine," Noctis says, "we can televise it.  But if Prompto's not okay with being on TV, I'm going to let him sit with the other Crownsguard instead of in the box.  I'll talk to Drautos."

For a little while, they watch the recruits compete in silence.  However, Regis's schedule is extremely busy, and it's not long before someone arrives to pull him away to his next appointment.

"Dad," Noctis says, catching him before he leaves.  "This is okay, right?  Prompto, I mean."

Regis smiles.  "Son, you may court whomever you choose.  Certainly some councilmembers may be unhappy that their eligible daughters are not in consideration, but they can be handled."

"...Right.  Thanks, Dad."

Clasping a hand on Noctis's shoulder and squeezing, Regis says, "Good luck, son."

*

"So," Prompto says, sitting down next to Ignis in the Crownsguard locker room.  "What am I supposed to do with this?"

He's holding the black cloth Noctis had tied around his arm in his hand.  "What do you want to do with it?" Ignis asks mildly.  This stage of courtship only requires that Noctis present Prompto with the token during a competition, not that Prompto do anything in particular with it afterward.

"I don't…know?  I don't know, I don't know what it-- I mean, am I supposed to give it back?"

Ignis blinks.  "Do you wish to reject His Highness's favor?"

"Oh," Prompto says, his eyes wide.  "Oh, we're still doing the old-time-y thing.  Okay, no, of course I don't want to reject the favor of a gallant prince!  I guess I'll just…keep it, then."

"Old-time-y--" Ignis begins, but before he can get another word out Prompto is shoving it into his bag and heading out of the room.

He sighs.  Noctis is going to have to work harder than he thought.

*

Noctis doesn't have a chance to talk to Prompto again for a few days, between his busy schedule and Prompto's Crownsguard training, but they finally manage to get together Friday night.  Despite his nerves and the courtship as a whole, hanging out with Prompto is still just as fun and relaxing as it's ever been.  They watch a dumb action movie, play video games, and eat more pizza than is probably wise.

It's not until Prompto says something about heading out to catch the last train that Noctis remembers he's supposed to talk to him about the exhibition match.

"Hey, so," he says, while Prompto ties his shoes.  "I'm doing this exhibition match with the Kingsglaive the week after next."

"Oh yeah?  Cool!  Do you have to fight all of them or just one person?"

Prompto sounds legitimately excited.  Gods, he's so cute.

Gladio teases him about going through puberty late, but Noctis has known about sex since he was a teenager.  He jerks off, he knows how it feels, and he's watched romantic movies and read books, but until these last few months he just never really wanted to be involved in it himself, not with anyone else, at least.

Not until he started having butterflies in his stomach every time Prompto smiled at him.

"Just one," he tells Prompto.  "The glaives will do some of their own exhibitions, then it'll be me and one of them for the finale.  It'll be televised."

Prompto finishes tying his first shoe and moves on to the other.  "Sweet, I bet they'll get some awesome instant replays of you guys warping all over the place."

"Actually, you're invited to come in person," Noctis says, rubbing the back of his head.  "I just wanted to see if you were okay with sitting in the box with Ignis and Gladio.  If you sit with them you'll probably be on TV, so if that's a problem, I can get you a spot with the Crownsguard."

"Wait, so I can either sit in your fancy box and hang out with my friends, or I can be crowded into the nosebleeds with the guy who kicked my ass at hand-to-hand the other day?"

"There's free food and drinks in the box, too," Noctis offers.  "It's air conditioned."

Prompto finishes with his shoes and pops back up, shouldering his bag.  "I think I can handle the camera panning past me in exchange for that," he says.  "Just let me know where and when!"

Noctis breathes a sigh of relief.  "Awesome.  I'll have Iggy give you all the details."

Prompto's reaching for the handle of the door when Noctis suddenly remembers the book that's sitting in his bedroom, waiting for him to take the next step in the courtship.  "Wait!" he exclaims.  "Hang on, I have something, just-- I'll be right back, don't go yet."

"Uh…sure, buddy, but don't take too long or I'll miss the train."

Noctis runs to his room and grabs the book, then runs back, pressing it into Prompto's hand.  "Here, it's for you."

Prompto looks at it quizzically.  "A graphic novel version of The Tale of Shiva and Ifrit?"   Before Noctis can explain, he shoves the book in his bag and says, "Crap, I gotta go, see you, Noct!"

And then Prompto is gone.  Noctis shuts the door and leans against it, closing his eyes.  Somehow, this isn't working out the way he thought it would.

*

Prompto looks at the cryptic message from Ignis on his phone.  Noct will meet you before the exhibition to receive your token, it says, with no context or anything.

He knows about the exhibition, at least, but what is this token stuff?  Does Noct want back the cloth he gave Prompto back at the Crownsguard competition?

Honestly he's been really confused by all of the things Noct has been doing lately.  There were different bits and pieces of the graphic novel Noct gave him highlighted and underlined, the really romantic parts and the parts about Shiva being stronger than she looks, and he just doesn't know what to make of it.

Sighing, he clicks off his phone to ignore Ignis's message for now and turns his attention back to the TV.  Today's training was exhausting, and he's finally curled up on his couch with some takeout and one of his favorite comfort movies, The Prince's Favor.   He's seen it a thousand times, but one more time never hurts.

On the screen, Lady Orania is attending a banquet, where she and Prince Fortis are sniping at each other constantly beneath the veneer of polite conversation.  The movie is from Orania's point of view, so she doesn't know that Fortis is falling in love with her.  When Fortis's friend shows up with gifts for Orania the first time, she thinks Fortis is trying to pull one over on her somehow, and tosses his gifts into the river.

Orania's feelings start to change when her younger brother, a green army recruit, nearly dies in his first battle.  Fortis rescues him in a way that lets him keep his honor, and doesn't even take credit for it.  Prompto's finished his noodles by the time Orania is accepting the black scarf Fortis offers her to protect her face from the dust as she races against the enemy's messengers to bring word of the loss of a key battle home to the king.

He cleans up his dinner and gets some ice cream out for the last act of the movie.  Orania is back in the capitol dealing with diplomatic drama, but she and Fortis correspond and their letters become increasingly romantic as their courtship progresses.  The political plot culminates with Fortis challenging the enemy general to a one-on-one duel to decide the outcome of the war.  Before going into battle, he and Orania have a moment where she gives him her favorite hair ribbon, which he ties onto his clothes.  It's their first kiss, and Fortis is so fired up about it he's ready to tear down the enemy general immediately.

"If you think that courtship token carrying your lady's favor will save you from my sword," the enemy general growls, "then think again!"

Prompto drops his spoon.

He has to pause the movie and stare at the wall for a long time, remaining ice cream melting in the bowl, before his thoughts stop spinning enough to put the bowl down and walk into his bedroom, cataloguing the gifts that Noct has given him.

First, there were the two gold coins made to look like the ones from Super Moogle World, which Ignis handed to him.  Then, the gold chocobo keychain, from Gladio -- Prompto had asked why Noct didn't give it to him himself, and Gladio had just laughed at him.  The new camera, the special edition of his favorite video game, the framed fanart of the protagonist of his favorite anime, the marked up graphic novel.

The black cloth that Noct had tied around his arm at the Crownsguard competition.  Noct had said it was a token of his favor.   Prompto grabs his phone and looks at the text from Ignis again: Noct will meet you before the exhibition to receive your token.

"Why the hell is Noct practicing giving courtship gifts on me?!"

His voice echoes in the empty room.  Is Noct going to be courting someone soon?  Is that why he's got to practice?  Why on Prompto?   Gods, if only it was real.  But knowing that Noct is practicing it so he'll be ready to court someone else…

Maybe Noct is interested in romance after all.  Just not with him.

He takes a deep breath, then goes back to the living room, cleans up his ice cream, and switches the TV to a dumb reality show instead.  It's fine.  Prompto will bring a token that Noct can use in the exhibition match and when he gives it to him, he'll ask about the whole thing, even if he kind of maybe really doesn't want to know if Noct is about to go court Lady Lunafreya or some nobleman's kid or whoever.

If Noct wants to practice courtship, then fine, but Prompto at least deserves to know why.

*

Noctis paces the little room off the side of the royal box in the arena.  Prompto's late; the Kingsglaive are about to start their demonstration and he's still not here.

"Maybe something happened to him," he says.  "Do you think he's okay?  Maybe we ought to send someone from the Crownsguard to check."

"Relax."  Gladio leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.  "He probably just missed the train.  It's only been a few minutes."

"What if he's not coming?  What if he-- What if he didn't like the book?  What if he doesn't want me to court him but he's just afraid to turn me down?"

"Ah," Ignis says, "I've just received word that he's arrived at the gate and is being escorted up."

Noctis squeezes his hands into fists, then forces himself to relax.  "You got this, champ," Gladio says, smacking him on the shoulder.

"We shall await you outside."  Ignis shoots the clock a pointed glance.  "I'm afraid you'll only have a few minutes before you'll be called out to the field, though.  I'll give you as much time as I can."

"Right," Noctis says.  "Thanks."

He's still fidgeting with his glove when Prompto comes in, looking a little harried.  "Sorry," Prompto says immediately.  "I missed the train and the next one was late because of a--"

"It's fine!" Noctis interrupts.  "I'm, uh.  I'm glad you made it."

For a second, they just look at each other, then Prompto reaches into his bag and pulls out the silver chain that he sometimes wears to attach his wallet to his belt.  "So," he says, "I brought you this, because Ignis said I had to bring a token, but, uh.  I wasn't sure what would be good."

"It's perfect," Noctis says, relieved, taking the chain and wrapping it around his glove.  It's got clips on both ends, and he can clip them right onto the buckle.  He can't quite get the clasp with one hand, though.

"Here, lemme help."  Prompto's hands are warm when he clips the chain on, and Noctis can feel his face heating up.  When Prompto looks up at him, their faces are close together, and Noctis's heart flutters.  Is this-- Does this mean he's succeeded?  Prompto gave him his chain, and now he's so close, just like the scene in The Prince's Favor where Fortis kisses Orania.  Noctis swallows hard, and leans in--

"So I gotta ask," Prompto says, stepping away.  "Who's the lucky person?"

Noctis blinks.  "What?"

"This whole practice courtship thing.  You're practicing so you can do it for real with someone else, right?  I didn't know you were interested in anyone."

Noctis's mouth opens, then closes, then opens again, and closes again.  "What?"

"Kind of rude to not tell me what was going on, though.  I mean, I didn't put it together until the other day, but it seems like a lot of trouble to go through when you could've just asked me to practice with you.  And why me, anyway?  Ignis or Gladio knows way more about this stuff than I do."

"Prompto--"

"I guess whoever it is will be pretty happy though, because you did a great job of picking out stuff I liked.  I'm keeping the camera, but I do really like that chain, so when the exhibition is over would you mind giving it back?  And then you can tell me all about whoever the lucky lady is who's gonna be the next Queen of Lucis."

"I'm not--"

The door swings open, and Ignis steps in.  "I'm afraid your time is up, Your Highness.  You're needed on the field."

"Good luck!" Prompto says, holding up his hand for a fist bump that Noctis numbly returns.  "I'll be rooting for you!"

Ignis leads Prompto out toward the box, and Noctis is left with Gladio waiting for him out in the hall, trying to put his brain back together.

"What the fuck?"

*

Gladio's guffaw when Noct tells him what happened is probably too loud, especially considering the stormy look on Noct's face.  He can't help it though -- the two of them are just so ridiculous.

"You could help me instead of laughing at me," Noct grumbles as they make their way down the corridor.

"Listen," Gladio says.  "Obviously Prompto is thick as a rock when it comes to this, so you have to be more direct.  Just tell him the truth."

"He's gonna hate me.  He already hates me!"  Noct tugs at the chain on his glove.  "Wearing his token is just a fraud because he didn't really give it to me.  How am I supposed to fight like this?"

Damn, Noct is really going through it.  Gladio presses his lips together, thinking, then makes a decision: time for some big brother tough love.

He shoves Noct up against the side of the corridor, holding him in place with an arm across his chest.  "Here's what you're gonna do," he says, because he really does want Noct and Prompto to be happy together.  The only thing stopping them is themselves.  "You're gonna wear that chain and go out there and you're gonna fight for him.  Show him what you're made of.  And when you get the TV broadcasters to interview you, you're gonna tell the truth, on live TV, about your feelings."

Noct, who had been struggling at first, stills and stares at him with wide eyes.  "Confess my feelings on live TV?"

"Yup," Gladio says, popping the P.  He releases Noct, who frowns down at the chain.  "Make a grand statement.  Don't let him doubt you're serious."

"...because there's no way I'd do that if it was just for practice."

"Exactly.  This isn't just an exhibition -- you're fighting for his heart."

Noct nods decisively, a hint of blue magic crackling along his fingers.  "Alright," he says, sounding more like a prince and less like a lovestruck idiot.  "I'm gonna win."

*

"Wow," Prompto says, as one of the Kingsglaive calls a ball of crackling lightning to topple a target high up in the air.  "Can Noct do that?"

"Not as such," Ignis says.  He doesn't know what went on between Noctis and Prompto, but the look on Noctis's face when he'd opened the door told Ignis it wasn't good.  "He channels his elemancy into flasks, rather than using it directly.  We believe it's a result of the accident when he was a child."

"Oh, that sucks.  But he can still do some pretty badass magic."

On the field, two Kingsglaive members are engaging in a warping race across an improbable series of obstacles set around the arena.  Noctis had appeared as scheduled at the beginning of the event, to flip the coin determining which Glaives would present their skills first.  As the exhibition continues, he pulls up his phone to see what the reactions on the internet have been.

Is Prince Noctis Courting?! one feed asks.  Rumor from sources inside the Citadel is that His Highness has bestowed a favor on one of his Crownsguard.  Given that this exhibition was scheduled on short notice, and with the prince himself competing, what else could it be but the next stage of courtship?

There are several more in the same vein, and posts appearing rapidly as the exhibition continues with photos of Noctis where he stands at the sidelines waiting his turn.  Several of them have caught him touching the chain on his glove contemplatively -- a chain that Ignis has certainly seen on Prompto's belt. 

If Prompto gave Noctis a token, then what about it could've gone wrong?

Gladio enters the box and slides into the seat beside him.  "Better get ready for a PR crisis," he murmurs.

Ignis raised his eyebrows.  "Oh?"  Gladio nods down at the field, where Noctis has approached the broadcast booth.  "Oh, no, what is he doing?"

They'd agreed previously to no interviews, because Noctis was sensitive about putting himself and Prompto in the limelight.  Noctis is perfectly decent at giving public statements -- when he's well-prepared in advance.

"Telling this idiot over here what's really going on," Gladio rumbles, nodding at Prompto, who's moved closer to the window and is cheering along with the crowd for the glaive who won the race.  "He finally realized he's being courted but he thinks it's fake."

"He-- what?"

The door to the box opens again, and Ignis gets up immediately to bow to King Regis.  "Your Majesty," he says, echoed by Gladio beside him.  A second later, Prompto seems to realize what's going on and bows as well.

"I see I've made it in time to see Noctis," Regis says, leading Clarus and Cor along with him into the box.

Ignis has to elbow Prompto to get him to straighten up again.  "Yes, though I believe he's about to--"

"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer bellows through the arena's sound system, echoing even in the royal box.  "It's just about time for Prince Noctis to demonstrate his skills against one of our Kingsglaive, but first he's granted us an exclusive interview!"

The giant screen above the arena switches from showing close-ups of the Kingsglaive high-fiving each other after the race to a shot of Noctis and one of the broadcasters.  He doesn't look nervous, Ignis notes in relief.  Whatever he's going to say, at least there's that.

"I didn't think he'd scheduled an interview," Cor says.

Gladio shrugs.  "He didn't, but because of -- things -- he decided he wanted to after all."

"This should be interesting," Regis says, settling down into his seat.  The rest of them follow suit, Clarus and Cor on either side of him, with Gladio, Ignis, and Prompto in the row behind.

"Nobody told me the king would be here," Prompto hisses to Ignis.

"It is the royal box," Ignis murmurs, but he pats Prompto's arm comfortingly.  "You'll be fine."

On the screen, the interviewer smiles at the camera.  "Your Highness," she says, "thank you for granting us some of your time.  We're all very much looking forward to your exhibition."

The camera zooms in a little further on Noctis.  "Thanks," he says.  "I wanted to thank everyone for coming out today to watch.  I know we put this together with short notice, but it's really important to me, and I'm grateful to have such a large turn-out."

Ignis chances a look at Prompto, who's watching the screen with wide eyes.  Noctis brushes hair out of his face, the chain around his glove jingling.  "There's been a lot of speculation about the reasons for this exhibition," the broadcaster says.   "I understand you have something you wanted to say about it."

Noctis nods.  "That's right.  I scheduled this exhibition because it's one of the steps of a formal courtship.  I just wanted to say, right now…"   He turns to look up toward the royal box, and the camera moves around him to catch him head-on.  "Prompto."

Prompto draws a sharp breath next to him.  "What's he doing?" he whispers.

"Prompto, I know you think-- well.  I know what you think.  But the reason I'm doing all of this is to-- to win your heart.  When you watch me fight, I want you to know that I'm fighting for you."  Ignis plays out all of the different media takes on this there are going to be in the next few hours even as he admires Noctis's serious and determined expression.

Beside him, Prompto has clapped his hands over his mouth and is staring wide-eyed at the screen.  Suddenly the screen splits, and a second camera is swinging across the audience, showing their reactions of applause and excited murmuring.  The camera slides past the edge of the crowd and focuses in on the royal box, and Ignis is glad for the fact that he always takes care with his appearance because he's on the screen for a long moment while the camera person figures out which of them is Prompto, and zooms in on him instead.

"Oh my god," Prompto says, staring at himself on the giant screen.

"I'm sure we'll all be rooting for you, Your Highness," the interviewer says.

"Thanks, Marcia," Noctis says, looking a little sheepish.  "I hope you enjoy the exhibition."

The first camera cuts off of Noctis, and the other slides over to show Regis, who smiles benevolently and waves at it.  Then they switch to the cameras back down in the arena, where Noctis and one of the glaives are walking out to the middle.

"Ignis," Prompto says urgently, grabbing his sleeve.  "Ignis, what--?"

"Did you really not realize he was courting you?" Ignis says.

"But he's-- he's a prince!   I'm just-- just one of his guards, he can't court me!"

"Noctis is permitted to court whomever he chooses," Regis says.  He's eyeing Prompto curiously, his lips pressed together with suppressed mirth.  "Are his advances unwelcome?  There's no penalty for refusing him, you know."

"No!  I mean, of course I-- He really wants me?"

Gladio reaches around Ignis to shove Prompto's shoulder.  "He's head over heels for you, idiot.  You think Noct would go on camera like that for just anyone?"

"Ah, the match is starting," Regis says.  He leans forward in his seat, and Prompto drags his eyes back to the window to watch.

Noctis shakes hands with the glaive -- Amilina Durand, a solid choice by Captain Drautos.  She and Noctis are well-matched.  The bout is planned in three rounds, with points calculated for hits, deductions for missed warps, and a whole series of other rules that Ignis finds himself explaining to Prompto as they watch.

The cameras keep tight on Noctis, and as Noctis fights with all his heart, Ignis knows that this is going to go a long way to helping his public image.  Not that he has a negative image, but he can often appear aloof and detached.  Knowing that he's got feelings after all, and that he can be this serious about them, well, that will earn him the love of many of the populace.

Noctis loses the first round, thanks to a missed warp deduction and Durand's quick use of a crystalline shield to block one of this attacks.  The camera follows him as he takes a drink of water, then touches the chain on his glove again, as if reminding himself what -- who -- he's fighting for.

Prompto doesn't say a word for the rest of the exhibition, only watches on the edge of his seat as Noctis wins the second round and the third begins.  He's so invested that he doesn't even notice when the camera swings around onto him again, capturing him cheering as Noctis pulls off a tricky airstep maneuver that gets him on Durand's blind side.

And when Noctis wins the third round, and the match as a whole, the camera is still on Prompto as Noctis looks up at him from the middle of the arena and gives him finger guns.

*

Prompto waits in the same antechamber as before for Noct to finish with whatever post-exhibition things he has to do.  At least there are no cameras in here -- in the few minutes after the match ended Gladio already found far too many haphazardly photo-edited pictures on the internet of Prompto's wide-eyed surprise and Noct's determined face with hearts all over them.  That's just the sort of thing you have to deal with when you're friends with a prince, though.

Or, boyfriends with a prince.

He can feel his face heating up just thinking about it.  Gods, he's been an idiot.  Everything makes sense now, though -- Ignis's surprise when he asked about giving back that black cloth, Noct's face when he'd tried to ask about who he was really planning to court.

After far too long, the door finally bursts open, and Noct rushes in, still sweaty from his fight.  He stops a couple steps in, and Prompto forgets how to breathe.  Noct is gorgeous, has always been gorgeous, and now is no exception.

"So, uh," Noct says after a second.  "If you still want the chain back, I'll give it to you, but--"

"Keep it," Prompto says.  "Noct, keep it, I didn't-- I didn't think--"

Noct takes a step closer.  Prompto's heart leaps at the hope he sees on Noct's face.  "I've got another courtship gift for you," Noct says, "if you want it."

He opens up a bag that Prompto hadn't even noticed he was holding, and pulls out a black leather wrist cuff.  "Stage four is a gift that will be worn against your skin, which holds a mark of royal favor," he says, holding it out to Prompto.

"There are stages?" Prompto says dumbly.

Noct cracks a smile.  "Don't you remember in The Prince's Favor when Fortis gives Orania the necklace with the royal crest on it?"

Prompto takes the cuff and turns it over in his hands.  It's made of high-quality black leather, and Noct's family crest is impressed on it.

"So," Noct says, fidgeting a little and looking away.  "What do you say?  Will you-- will you accept it?"

"Noct, you dumbass," Prompto says, though his heart is beating wildly in his chest.  "You could've just asked me out on a date like a normal person.  I would've said yes."

Noct snorts.  "After all this, I'm pretty sure you would've thought I meant it as friends-only and not realized it was a date."

"You're never gonna let me live that down, are you," Prompto says with a groan.

"Even if I will, Gladio and Ignis won't."  Noct takes the cuff and wraps it around Prompto's wrist -- the bare one, though Prompto will exchange his old green band for this later.  When he finishes buckling it, he meets Prompto's eyes again, and Prompto realizes just how close they're standing.

"Noct," Prompto breathes, and then Noct leans in and kisses him.

Their noses knock together, and the pressure is too hard, but Prompto doesn't care.

It's perfect.

*

"The media coverage and reaction from the populace have been overwhelmingly positive," Scientia says, laying copies of the latest issues of Insomnia's major magazines on Regis's desk.  "The council, on the other hand…"

"They'll fall in line sooner or later."  Regis shuffles through the magazines, pulling out one with a candid photo of Noctis and Prompto sharing an intimate moment outside Noctis's apartment building.  He flips it open to the article to find the sequence of photos: Noctis walking Prompto out, taking both hands in his, Prompto grinning and then the two of them leaning in for a brief goodbye kiss.  The headline reads, the prince fought for his heart and won!

Regis smiles; Noctis looks happy.

"Have they reached the stage where it's appropriate for me to invite Mister Argentum for dinner?" Regis asks.  "Not that I'm not permitted to, of course, but there is the step where Noctis announces his intention to his own family."

"Gladiolus was helping His Highness with poetry the other day," Clarus says, amusement clear in his voice.  "I think it's completely reasonable for you to have the two of them present themselves for a family dinner."

"Excellent.  Scientia, can you add that to my calendar, please?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Well," Regis says, leaning back in his chair and eyeing the two of them.  "I didn't expect that Noctis would find someone before Ignis or Gladiolus."

"Neither did I," Clarus says, "but my son purchased a set of gold cufflinks made to look like ancient gold coins the other day."  He smiles at Scientia.  "I believe they'd suit Ignis rather well."

Scientia barks a surprised laugh.  "I'm sure Gladiolus's attention would be a welcome change from Ignis's rather unfortunate luck with online dating."

"Unfortunate luck?" Regis asks.  There's nothing left on the calendar today, so he leans in and says, "Do tell."

*

Noctis is still getting used to the euphoria of actually being with Prompto.  To be honest, very little about their relationship has changed -- it's just that now sometimes they sit a little closer together, or a touch lingers.  It's that when Noctis thinks Prompto's cute he can tell him, and then Prompto will either get all blushy and shy, or, more recently, he'll say, Oh yeah?  What're you gonna do about it? and then there will be kissing.

The kissing is pretty great. 

Noctis's lips are still tingling when he says goodbye to Prompto after a visit to Prompto's apartment and falls into step next to Gladio.

"I got a favor to ask you," Gladio says, when they stop in front of the car.  He holds out his hand, and drops a pair of cufflinks into Noctis's.  They're gold, and designed like coins. 

Noctis grins.  "'Course," he says.  "I owe you one."