He nudged Stella lightly with his knee, mischief in his smile and his eyes.
❝ I'll make the first move. I'll write to him and see what he's got planned for his birthday. that way we're not stepping over any toes, yeah? ❞
He nudged Stella lightly with his knee, mischief in his smile and his eyes.
❝ I'll make the first move. I'll write to him and see what he's got planned for his birthday. that way we're not stepping over any toes, yeah? ❞
+
+
Ardyn's eyes were like someone had pulled off a layer of corruption and let the light shine through.
Prompto lowered the phone and glanced at Stella.
❝ whatever it is, she brings it out in him. and that's a big deal. ❞
He took a sip of boba, then added,
+
Ardyn's eyes were like someone had pulled off a layer of corruption and let the light shine through.
Prompto lowered the phone and glanced at Stella.
❝ whatever it is, she brings it out in him. and that's a big deal. ❞
He took a sip of boba, then added,
+
And it made something in Prompto grow warm.
❝ maybe it's a magic thing? a soul thing? it's... ❞ he murmured and trailed off. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, he wanted to say. A life where Ardyn was truly chosen, with someone by his side.
+
And it made something in Prompto grow warm.
❝ maybe it's a magic thing? a soul thing? it's... ❞ he murmured and trailed off. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, he wanted to say. A life where Ardyn was truly chosen, with someone by his side.
+
It wasn't just the eyes that intrigued him, though they did take most of his attention. Ardyn's smile stuck with him too. The chancellor's smile often came in a wry, '𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵' way. But this wasn't that.
It wasn't just the eyes that intrigued him, though they did take most of his attention. Ardyn's smile stuck with him too. The chancellor's smile often came in a wry, '𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵' way. But this wasn't that.
Stella asked what it could mean.
❝ no clue, ❞ he answered, his voice hushed.
❝ never happened before. I thought his eyes were always amber. his brother had blue eyes, but that could just be recessive genes showing for either of them,
+
Stella asked what it could mean.
❝ no clue, ❞ he answered, his voice hushed.
❝ never happened before. I thought his eyes were always amber. his brother had blue eyes, but that could just be recessive genes showing for either of them,
+
Yeah, that was it.
He leaned closer to her. His shoulder brushed hers. He adjusted the screen a little more,
+
Yeah, that was it.
He leaned closer to her. His shoulder brushed hers. He adjusted the screen a little more,
+
❝ ...I'm really glad you're here.❞
There was an itch in his palm where the phone wanted to be, but he wouldn't bring it back out. This wasn't a moment he wanted behind glass. It was one he wanted to hold onto with his own two hands.
❝ ...I'm really glad you're here.❞
There was an itch in his palm where the phone wanted to be, but he wouldn't bring it back out. This wasn't a moment he wanted behind glass. It was one he wanted to hold onto with his own two hands.
A crooked, almost disbelieving smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, half-laughing under his breath.
❝ guess the gods have got a sense of humor after all. 'cause here you are. and I, ❞ he broke off, glancing at her like he still wasn’t sure
+
A crooked, almost disbelieving smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, half-laughing under his breath.
❝ guess the gods have got a sense of humor after all. 'cause here you are. and I, ❞ he broke off, glancing at her like he still wasn’t sure
+
Now here she was.
❝ ...you said that once, ❞ he finally managed, voice quieter now. ❝ in a letter. back when I... didn’t really think anyone could see me.
+
Now here she was.
❝ ...you said that once, ❞ he finally managed, voice quieter now. ❝ in a letter. back when I... didn’t really think anyone could see me.
+
He’d kept that letter. Still had it tucked away with the others in a little box. That box survived moves, Crownsguard dorm inspections, and who knows what else.
+
He’d kept that letter. Still had it tucked away with the others in a little box. That box survived moves, Crownsguard dorm inspections, and who knows what else.
+
He remembered.
Not instantly. Not with the lightning-bolt clarity in romance movies. But he remembered.
+
He remembered.
Not instantly. Not with the lightning-bolt clarity in romance movies. But he remembered.
+
❝ yeah, my name ain't the most noble sounding. it's even kinda weird, but it's mine. ❞ He'd written the same thing to Stella, more or less. It wasn't less true since the last time he'd said it.
His gaze then flicked up to meet the young woman's.
+
❝ yeah, my name ain't the most noble sounding. it's even kinda weird, but it's mine. ❞ He'd written the same thing to Stella, more or less. It wasn't less true since the last time he'd said it.
His gaze then flicked up to meet the young woman's.
+
❝ Prompto, ❞ he said. The name felt small compared to the weight of the moment, but he gave it anyway. And if she asked for everything he had, he'd give her that too, honestly. ❝ Argentum, if we’re going full disclosure. ❞
He paused and looked down. He rubbed the back of his neck,
+
❝ Prompto, ❞ he said. The name felt small compared to the weight of the moment, but he gave it anyway. And if she asked for everything he had, he'd give her that too, honestly. ❝ Argentum, if we’re going full disclosure. ❞
He paused and looked down. He rubbed the back of his neck,
+
Then he offered to give his name to her, and she accepted the offer. He cast the thread first, but her confirmation felt like a blessing. Or a spell. Something sacred, like that.
His mouth curved in a smile. It was sheepish and warm.
+
Then he offered to give his name to her, and she accepted the offer. He cast the thread first, but her confirmation felt like a blessing. Or a spell. Something sacred, like that.
His mouth curved in a smile. It was sheepish and warm.
+
There were things she said that stuck in his ribs. In the hollow places he didn't know were waiting to be filled. Peace, tranquility. Words like that, said with her voice and with her gaze the dreamiest shade of his favorite color...
+
There were things she said that stuck in his ribs. In the hollow places he didn't know were waiting to be filled. Peace, tranquility. Words like that, said with her voice and with her gaze the dreamiest shade of his favorite color...
+
+
+
❝ not to worry, I can space those kisses out so I don't take your breath away all at once. ❞
❝ not to worry, I can space those kisses out so I don't take your breath away all at once. ❞
There was laughter in his words, but there was warmth in it too. He knew enough to see how careful Ardyn was. When it came to being vulnerable around others, caution was right. But Prompto would be gentle. It was only right.
+
There was laughter in his words, but there was warmth in it too. He knew enough to see how careful Ardyn was. When it came to being vulnerable around others, caution was right. But Prompto would be gentle. It was only right.
+
❝ ooh, should I be worried about my immortal date not breathing every time I kiss him? I mean, I could make CPR part of the evening, but how would I explain to the waiter at the fancy restaurant we'll go to,
+
❝ ooh, should I be worried about my immortal date not breathing every time I kiss him? I mean, I could make CPR part of the evening, but how would I explain to the waiter at the fancy restaurant we'll go to,
+