[ Prompto has known Noctis long enough to find him here of all places a bit boggling. His best friend is the quiet sort, to himself, and while that is the exact opposite of what Prompto is, he's always kinda admired it. In high school, everyone always saw it as a quiet intensity, but Prompto was pretty pleasantly surprised to discover that it was actually just quiet. Not intensity. Because Noctis is far more of a dork than he anticipated initially.
But still, there's a solid moment here where Prompto doesn't at all expect the gesture to be returned. And he would be okay with it, because Noctis simply needs to know how relieved Prompto is, regardless of what happened.
There's so much relief the second they're close; not that they haven't been close before (close quarters in a stuffy tent and all that), but this? This is so far beyond the norm, and Prompto revels in it. Revels in the fact that Noct is whole and safe, even if he's here. Prompto knows he could easily run off at the mouth here, make up a ton of reasons to apologize more despite Noct's reassurance, but he's quickly silenced the moment the favor is returned.
Noctis "miles away" Caelum is hugging him back, and after everything they've been through? It's like he's been dragging his ass through a parched desert and finding an oasis. It's such a calming feeling, the pressure it gives, the reassurance it adds, and Prompto is quick to tighten his grip in turn. Arms around his best friend's shoulders, Prompto buries his face in the other's shoulder in kind.
Oh great. His throat's starting to tighten. ]
Not. Gonna. Cry.
Not gonna cry.
[ He says that mantra to himself, muttered muffled against Noct's jacket. But Prompto's already kinda failing here, because his eyes are burning. ]
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But still, there's a solid moment here where Prompto doesn't at all expect the gesture to be returned. And he would be okay with it, because Noctis simply needs to know how relieved Prompto is, regardless of what happened.
There's so much relief the second they're close; not that they haven't been close before (close quarters in a stuffy tent and all that), but this? This is so far beyond the norm, and Prompto revels in it. Revels in the fact that Noct is whole and safe, even if he's here. Prompto knows he could easily run off at the mouth here, make up a ton of reasons to apologize more despite Noct's reassurance, but he's quickly silenced the moment the favor is returned.
Noctis "miles away" Caelum is hugging him back, and after everything they've been through? It's like he's been dragging his ass through a parched desert and finding an oasis. It's such a calming feeling, the pressure it gives, the reassurance it adds, and Prompto is quick to tighten his grip in turn. Arms around his best friend's shoulders, Prompto buries his face in the other's shoulder in kind.
Oh great. His throat's starting to tighten. ]
Not. Gonna. Cry.
Not gonna cry.
[ He says that mantra to himself, muttered muffled against Noct's jacket. But Prompto's already kinda failing here, because his eyes are burning. ]
Gods, I'm just so glad you're safe.