Aftermath of Gunfire

[threevirtues]

Crazy, how things go sometimes. Prompto knew he'd eventually be reaching out to Talcott, but he didn't expect to be doing so with not one but two new boyfriends. Not only that, but two boyfriends who he'd been pining after for years on years now. As he waits at the front end of Hammerhead for the familiar truck to roar into sight, Prompto wonders if Talcott saw it coming- that is to say, the reciprocation. Hard to know just how much the guy knows, but he sure does observe a lot, and totally knew about his crushes.

Iggy has been a good teacher to him, clearly. If the sun were still around, Prompto would guarantee he would have a perfect aesthetic eye for photography, too. That somehow sees the blond feeling a bit wistful. He'd love to see the sun again, take Talcott under his wing, and share the hobby he holds dearest with him once more. It could never be the same as before, but at least, for a moment, Prompto would be able to ease his raging thoughts and just exist happily.

For now, though, they're off to see some stars. They're going camping, even! Tal agreed to pick him up, go on a little road trip over to the Cape. According to him, there's good marks, good work to be had, and, if they get lucky, one or two stars to be seen up in the impossible darkness that they've been forced to become used to.

"Heeeeeeeeey! Straaaanger!" Prompto hollers out the instant he sees Talcott's special headlights come into view. "Took you long enough!!!"

It takes longer than he wants it to, getting things squared away to take a couple days to drag Prompto out on a hunt. But... it's something he really wants to do. Both because he misses his friend (and that moment of actually getting to talk to him face to face was too heartening to leave their friendship to calls anymore) and because well... he might have new plans for why he needs to get down to the coast.

Between Prompto starting things with Gladio and Ignis (and the more frequent meetings that entails), plus their research, the usual work, it's impossible to get time set aside for something important but... not urgent. There are too many emergencies happening at any one time. But as he rolls in and sees Prompto waiting, so excited he's hollering before Talcott's even parked the truck-

Well. He can't help grinning as he swings down from the cab.

"It wasn't my fault!" He's laughing at the protest, immediately closing the distance between them for a hug whether Prompto's prepared for that or not. But his voice is more serious when he steps back. "There's a couple Red Giants up near Pallareth. I managed to get around them but they're going to cause a problem if they end up in the overpass. It's too narrow up there. Sounded like Iris was taking a group up there to deal with them."

Those hazel eyes darken for a moment, worried for his sister, but then he sighs and seems to mentally set the weight aside. If you dwell on it you'll never get anything done. So he doesn't. Compartmentalization and all that.

"You got your gear?" And then Tal's patting Prompto's arm, gesturing for the blond to come with him around to the back of the truck so they can load up his stuff.

There's the man of the hour with that wonderful smile that almost fuels Prompto as much as he's known to do for others. He's really been looking forward to this outing for multiple reasons. Sure, they have a team mission coming up soon with Iggy, but that at it's core is just that...A mission. Not a chance to bond with someone, make up for lost time.

There's thoughts too that the blond really ought to unpack concerning Talcott specifically- but he does his damndest to push that off for the Prompto of the Future to deal with. No need to consider the strength of that hug right now. Or the words from Talcott that stuck with him so clearly: Our own little piece of sunshine. You keep that hope alive. More than you know.

"Hmmmm....A strong excuse. The Council of Prompto will accept it!" He gives Talcott a lopsided grin in return, trotting around to the back of the truck. He has a backpack slung around his shoulders, with all his old supplies. Prompto held onto them for....Well, to have something from back then to hold onto along with the photographs. It is from the final camp they didn't manage to take down and store away all those years ago. He made an active choice after Noctis went away to not even attempt to use the Armiger. He assumes it wouldn't work, anyway, but....Using it without Noct around is a veritable emotional can of worms he just isn't wanting to open. There's enough of a hole in his heart as-is.

"As a reward, I've brought alllll the camping goods, vintage ones with so many stories! How cool is that, Tal?!"

It would work. It does work. Tal has watched Ignis and his brother both use it... but he can't blame Prompto for not wanting to put himself through the heartbreaking pang that must come with the sensation of that magic. Anyone with half a brain could see how much he loved Noctis.

So Tal doesn't say anything, just takes a few practiced steps, half vaulting over the tailgate into the back of the truck with one foot on the back bumper and one hand grasping the arched frame of the back cover. Then he's snagging Prompto's pack and moving to secure it in one of the storage bins anchored to the side of the truck. Just to make sure nothing goes clattering out the back if they have to do some.... creative off-roading.

"Vintage huh? You know I'm gonna make you tell those stories, right?" Talcott grins as he hops back down to the asphalt. It's only then that there's a slight bit of strain in his movements, the fluid crouch to absorb the impact of the drop dipping too low on one side and making him put one hand on the truck to keep his balance as he straightens back up. Okay... so maybe that leg is still a little too sore to just... dead drop a good seven feet.

He's waving a hand a moment later, dismissing the concern before Prompto even has a moment to voice it. "It's fine. Just a little sore still. C'mon." He lightly smacks a hand into the middle of Prompto's chest, another of those touchy gestures to keep the blond on the same page with him. If they're gonna talk about it they may as well do it in the truck. There's... well there's a long drive ahead of them.

It does work. Prompto has even, subconsciously, grabbed ammo from it before. But either he is blocking that out, or truly just doesn't realize it in the heat of battle. Otherwise, the Armiger is an off-limits, painful thing. A reminder of the man he loved more than the sun they lost.

"Eyup, maybe if you're eeeextra nice, I will tell you some of the real wild shit we all got up to on the road. Gladdy and I always got up to playing some killer pranks when we had a chance and a moment to breathe. Kinda miss it...Having a chance to breathe, that is." He absolutely misses everything about it. The fun, lighthearted moods, Noctis, the warmth of daylight...

But Prompto's attention is onto Talcott's strained movements like a focused laser. Such is his nature to worry after those he cares most about- and Talcott easily fits that bill, in ways even the blond has not quite realized. The touchy gesture is absolutely Tal speaking his language, and something he appreciates. So he fusses about things after they settle in up front for the ride.

"A little sore?" Prompto echoes, looking far from convinced, a small frown punctuating that fact. He noticed the scar too. While he's never been great at keeping his mouth shut at the right times, the boy does somehow manage to wait a beat to hear how Talcott will respond (or non-respond) to him. Best not to go in swinging, especially at a permanent scar- but Prompto is, and has been worried. Just what happened out there?

"Oh? Yeah am I allowed to know now?" He's laughing as he puts the truck in drive again, firing up the overhead rack along with the main lights. They're going to be going off the main road pretty quickly so there's no reason to wait.

He flashes a grin a Prompto again, though, raising his brows just a little bit suggestively. Look, buddy, he may have been young but he was not too young to know why Iris yanked him out of rooms and covered his eyes. Or stomped on Gladio's foot to stop him mid story. Some of it was just them being a terrible influence on a "nice young boy" like him but he definitely saw Prompto kissing the prince at least once.

Then Prom follows up about his leg and he shakes his head a little. Not dismissive, Talcott has watched Ignis and Gladio (and especially Cor) both insist on refusing people's care and concern for them time and again. He's observant enough to know that it might not be something they want to burden others with but if someone's noticed enough to ask then all they do in denying it is make them worry more. No when he shakes his head it's with a smile and hand lifted from the wheel long enough to gesture for Prom to calm down.

"Yeah. Just a little. I'd've been fine if I'd gone down to the bumper before getting down but-" He shrugs sheepishly. "It hasn't been hurting so I didn't think to lessen that drop. And there's nothing mechanically wrong with my leg, Prom. Just muscle aches where the bullet was."

Surely Gladio and Ignis told him what happened around Ignis uh... having... another boyfriend now. Right?

Ignis was right on top of telling Prompto. His response? Keysmashing in real life and text, and getting pretty damn excited of course. He knew Talcott had a crush- As far as Prompto is concerned, he's in Gladio's camp- who wouldn't? Sure, it kicks a few little crises of Prompto's own back to the fore, but...That's fine. He isn't going to be weird with Talcott, nope!

Relief does fill the nervous boy when Talcott doesn't immediately deny his injury. Right on track, reading Prompto so well, clicking with him in that natural way. He's so used to the people in his life minimizing, denying, making him worry even more. This at least helps him to relax a measure, shoulders slumping down a bit.

"Bullet? You realize I work real close with those. That's no joke...The only one, right?" He sighs, tilting his head to one side with the question. He has a feeling it isn't, but...

"Glad to know you had your man there to help you out. Couldn't pick a better set of people on deck to get in trouble with," he winks. "Look at you, out there gettin' it! Knew you could do it, Tal."

Okay Prompto asks so many things so quickly that Tal has to take a moment to parse it all and decide where to start. And try to stop blushing so damn hard. It makes his cheek sting in a way he's not accustomed to. Unfortunate with how much he's been doing it lately. Like... every time he looks at Ignis.

He ends up starting at the last bit and working backwards from there since that... sorta explains the order of events and answers all his questions. "It would've been better if Gladdy had actually been on deck." He smiles sheepishly, partially for not taking the time to do that in the first place and partially because he always feels a little guilty calling him Gladdy but Prompto and Iris are the only people he lets himself get away with it around. It's Iris' fault he picked it up in the first place.

"We were trying to be quick and stealthy. The Nifs have been keeping a closer eye on Galdin than we realized though and- well they started shooting before we could get to the truck. Practically tackled Iggy through the door for that little bait shop." He glances over at Prompto, expression somber for a moment, an apology in his eyes before he's refocusing so he can take the turn off the main road and onto the first ragged back road to get them to the coast. "Getting from there to the truck was the uh... tricky part. And I- Well I told Gladio I'd wait till I was 18 but I was very abruptly not sure that was going to happen so- yeah I kissed him. Then proceeded to scare the shit out of him. Nearly ran the damn truck over the bait shack trying to get close enough that he could get in without being in the line of fire."

Which means he had to make it from the shack to the truck as the only target for at least one mech and however many men were on that airship. If any of them had been on the ground he... probably wouldn't be here right now. "There were only two that did any real damage though. Lotta nicks and bruns, bruising through the vest. But one caught me right over my knee and we had to get Gladdy to haul ass out there to help Iggy get it out before-" A frustrated sigh, shaking his head a little, "wasting a potion on me. The other one." And he lifts one hand from the wheel to tap his cheek below the gouge that's been taken out of it.

"So maybe don't give me too much credit. I dunno if confessions under duress really count."

"oh...He came in later," Prompto hums thoughtfully, listening to the boy. He actually personally feels a little delight at hearing Talcott call Gladio Gladdy.

His expression becomes something much more worried as the story continues on. He can feel his heart start to sink, lower and lower, a pit forming in his stomach. It rapidly begins to set in just how dangerous things really were. Ignis, not wanting to worry him, hadn't gone into this kind of detail.

Prompto also realizes something else. He'd almost lost not one, but two people deeply important to him. "Sometimes, you realize things can't wait. Especially in somethin' where you don't know how much time is left."

The entire situation sounds excessively dangerous. Dangerous and terrifying. He can hear the apology in Talcott's voice and see it in his eyes, notes the frustration in his movements as he watches the road and they make their way ever closer to the coast. Prompto's own expression grows severe at a particular part. "Hold up. Pull over."

"You can't be serious, talking like that potion was wasted on you."

It rings so hauntingly familiar to Prompto. It sounds like something he would say, and that in particular sets him off.

Should the vehicle pull over so Talcott can get a good look, he will notice a fire in those cool blue eyes, the way Prompto's jaw is a little tense. "They didn't only get your knee either, did they?" He is a firearms specialist- and knows a scar from a bullet when he sees one. Right on Talcott's cheek.

The seriousness in Prompto's expression, the severity in his voice... it's unusual. The sort of thing that makes Talcott sit up and take notice immediately. His first thought, of course, is that he's seen something that could endanger the truck that Talcott has missed and the boy is swiftly scanning the horizon as best he can, looking for the tell tale glow of a red giant's sword or something equally out of their league. Off-roading like this (because let's be honest here, these roads were little more than trails 5 years ago) puts them in a far more vulnerable position.

But he sees nothing and so simply brings the vehicle to a stop, habitually reaching up to flick on the secondary overheads that flood the sides and back of the truck. Then he finally turns to look at Prompto and there's something there in his gaze Talcott's not sure he's ever seen before. A quiet crystalline flame that reminds him of the Marshal in many ways. And it's something that leaves no room for niceties, arguments, or minimizing the facts.

"No... but this-" a finger comes up to run along the length of missing flesh in his cheek. "Was shallow, comparatively. I was lucky." He knows that. Astrals, he knows that and he counts himself lucky for it anew every day.

"And I know I needed the potion, that they would've shoved another one in me if I let them. But-" His Majesty can't supply them with more. "They're a very limited resource."

Right when they're still and Talcott is fully paying attention, Prompto lays into him with no hesitation. "Who cares if they're limited, Tal? That's a bullet that hit you in the face!" Prompto's expression loses some of that severe edge, becoming a beacon of concern and...Something else. Like a realization has dawned on the blond.

"The world can't afford to lose you. You're bringing light just as much as I am. Iggy loves you. You have an older brother who probably wanted to take that bullet for you. Plus..."

His body practically moves on its own. That scar, it makes Prompto think many things at once that coalesce into what he does.

As someone with many scars, luckily able to be hidden away with clothing, Prompto knows a thing or two of coming to accept them, like his stretch marks. Or a lack thereof, in one case. He wears a specific one, that stretches from his collarbone down to his belly, with a level of hate, nausea, and fear that he's never been able to unpack ever since Ardyn drew the knife blade down his body in a languid and nonchalant way. He doesn't want Talcott to hate this scar and grapple with that pain- especially one on his face.

The other thought is that was a bullet. Prompto Argentum knows bullets, and given where that one was, he believes the world was far closer to losing Talcott than not.

With all of that swirling in his head, Prompto leans forward to plant a brief, small kiss on the scar. He leans back after like it was no big thing, a gesture between bros.

"I don't think I could really afford to lose you either, Tal."

"Honestly, that was the less painful one?" He half laughs as he says it but there's a kind of strained desperation in his tone, in those soft hazel eyes as he looks back at Prompto.

But even his best efforts at lightening the weight of what had almost happened crumbles under Prompto's concern. Some part of him, a bitter part that will always carry the wound of Dino's loss, wonders if it would really matter in the grand scheme of things. Why should it? Why would the world stop for him any more than it had for Dino. Just one less voice on the radio waves.

"I know he would've. And... even if he hadn't returned my feelings I've always known Ignis cares about me." He starts to shrug a little, to not make a big fuss about it. But then Prompto scoots closer, leans in and does the last thing Tal could have anticipated. He makes a small sound inquisitive at first and then, quickly, lilting up into surprise. Just one of those ingrained habits, vocalizing his expressions as always.

"Prompto...." He turns sort of sideways in his seat, looks at the blond for a long moment just considering him, the bond they've had through the years of the night. Maybe Prompto was better at hiding things than he'd thought, if he'd managed to convince even Talcott that he didn't need to rely on them to fuel his own sunshine. He'd never really thought of himself as capable of being that kind of battery.

After another moment Talcott reaches out, dragging Prompto closer so he can wrap both arms around him and squeeze the slight man to his chest. "Thank you."

Well, Prompto wasn't expecting (or perhaps he's denying it) to feel a vague spark when he kissed Talcott so informally. It was just a gesture after all, nothing weird. Really.

There's no time for the smaller man to consider or even fully fluster over that before Talcott draws him into a tight hug. Hard to believe just how steady, strong and sure the kid- no, the man feels. He relaxes, circling an arm around to Tal's back to gently rub small circles there. A rhythmic, soothing gesture.

Speaking of feeling, Prompto gets Talcott just as much as Talcott gets him on a wordless, deeper level. That wish to prove oneself among people he perceives as giants, that endless struggle with self-confidence. The deep-set want to uplift others to feel something for oneself- Astrals alive, they really have so much in common. It's no small wonder how they've bonded.

"Someone recently told me somethin'," Prompto muses quietly against Talcott's chest. It's something he thinks the young man ought to know. He can see it, like looking in a mirror, how Talcott may easily and perhaps inevitably end up trying to be a pillar for others with no regard for himself or his needs. Hell, maybe even his safety if apologies is what he's jumped to after being shot. Just like Prompto.

"He said, you can't let others lift you up if you don't let yourself be down. It....Take it from me, Tal, the dude still trying to settle with that after all these years," He laughs quietly, knowing how funny it must sound coming from the veritable king of talking down his troubles and insisiting he's fine. What Gladio told him though, and Iggy too- it stuck, rattling in his thoughts lately. "Being down is ok. Being weak is ok. It doesn't make you less, it....It makes you a person. I try to say that to myself every day now."

Don't go down his path, Tal.

Tal huffs a short laugh, barely more than a chuckle and with where Prompto is tucked against his chest like this the blond might be surprised at how tangible that sound is. Nowhere near the rumble of his brother's laugh but there's a warmth to the sound that comes from the same place in his chest. Something he might be able to grow into one day... as long as he doesn't have too many more close calls like the last one.

His arms tighten around Prompto for a moment, leaning his unmarred cheek against the softness of that chocobo fluff hair of his.

"I know a few people that could benefit from that advice." His brother, all of their friends, his boyfriend, his sister, the Marshal- the list of people that don't need to hear it is shorter. "You don't have to tell me that, Prom. I promise." One more squeeze before he loosens his hold, not pulling away but leaving his arms slung lazily around the other. An offer of an out if he needs his space back but not asking him to move away.

"You think I haven't seen how you guys push yourselves? That I haven't picked up on exactly how thin you've stretched yourselves? I get it. But I'm not gonna continue it. I-" He shakes his head a little, reaching up to fluff Prompto's hair, half playful, half affectionate. "Trust me I lost it on Iggy and Gladio both once I woke up. But there's a time and a place. You can't avoid those feelings but you can't dwell on them either, y'know? I'm okay, Prom."

Prompto doesn't budge. He likes it, being close to Talcott like this. How he can feel that start of a rumbling to his chuckle, surprising as it is, and listen to the beating of his heart. This closeness is a reassurance. Tal is here, and okay, and they're both important to each other. Whatever that relationship may mean...

"Yeah, I know tons, man, whole crowds." Prompto laughs, blue eyes sliding shut from the nice feeling of weight against his head. It makes the blonde happy to be a space where Talcott can find rest. A place where he can speak unhindered about anything. Even if a lot of what Prompto hears is hauntingly familiar.

Still, of all the people on Eos, Prompto is likely the best-versed in the art of I'm okay. He shuffles in place with a grumbling sort of huff. "Yeah, okay. No lingering, and good that you got it out of your system with those two. But...Don't just push it away if you need extra time or more to process, you know?"

An involuntary shudder racks through Prompto's body at the thought of his own words- he hasn't entirely given himself that sort of grace regarding the First Magitek Research Facility. Or Ardyn. Something for Later Prompto to worry over. As always.

"Look. You're never going to be asking too much if you need to lean on us sometimes. Even if we're stretched thin, I know Iggy loves you and Gladdy would probably go impossible lengths for you. And me, I- uh,"

Love, he thinks, but stumbles on words. Don't be weird, Prompto. He just started dating Ignis.

"I care more than a lot about you. So I don't wanna know you're shoving things back too much when I coulda been there to help you shoulder those feels."

Please, he begs. Don't be like me.