Chapter Text
He tapped out rapidfire attacks onto his phone as discreetly as he could under his desk. Kings Knight had come out with a new update and with it came new power boosts and rare quests that he refused to miss out on, jumping on them immediately instead of focusing on history class.
It wasn’t like Noct needed to focus on the history lesson anyway. Anything in this unit the professor was going over was already drilled into his head by Ignis and his tutors when he was young. He knew way more about his Great seven times removed Grandmother and could probably shock the professor, who stressed her respectability and composure as well as her conservative public image, by reciting the more trollish entries in her private diary that hadn’t been released to the public. It appeared sass and salt were a genetic Caelum trait..
A message popped up on his phone from the in game system and he started at first before being grateful he remembered to silence his phone. He cut his eyes up at the professor who was focused on the projector and tapped the response box.
ChocoPrompt87: DUDE. I know the new monster is badass but YA DON'T GOTTA RUSH IN LIKE THAT YOU’LL GET US BOTH KILLED LMAO
He grinned at the phone and continued his attacks before typing back a response. He’d been talking to ChocoPrompt87 for nearly a year in game and it was one of his favorite past times. He hadn’t had much luck making friends in person with anyone in school yet. His social standing appeared to be too great an obstacle in peoples minds to see around it and actually see him. Being able to talk to his friend in game had been great. Being able to just relax and not have to worry about his image or his friend being tempted by skeevy magazines to give information about him for cash.. He just wished he had someone in real life to actually hang out with and laugh like they did in game. The school year had just started though so hopefully he’d have better luck.
NoctGar: Ehh… you’ve got my ass covered. Plus I stocked up on resurrection potions before we started lmao
A short series of melodic dings played a few rows over followed by a thumping noise and a muffled voice that sounded like it was cursing.
That ringtone. Noct looked up and saw a blonde classmate fumbling with something under his desk. That was the kings night message notification.
“Argentum, is my lecture boring you?” The professor had paused his lecture to judgmentally glare over his lenses.
“No sir! I just- uh… I accidentally stabbed my hand with my pencil while taking notes?” His voice going up in inflection at the end.
“Do you need to take a break and head to the nurse for a bandaid?” The professor continued to stare skeptically.
There was no way. Was there? Noct looked down at the message box. It said read but didn’t have a reply yet. He hesitated for a second then typed out a new message.
NoctGar: hey
The ringtone sounded out again, albeit muffled. Argentum started coughing to try to cover it.
“I think that might be a good idea! I’ll just pop down and come back real quick!” He haphazardly began stuffing his things in his bag, clumsy in his haste.
“Make it fast. Talk to your classmates for any lecture notes you miss.” He dismissed him.
Nocts heart rate was beating through his jacket. There was no way. Things like this didn’t happen in real life. He stared at his classmate as he left, mouth barely open in shock. He’d always assumed ChocoPrompt was somewhere off in another part of Lucis and never thought he might be someone he’d interacted with in Insomnia. His hands started shaking and didn’t stop even as class was dismissed.
He checked his messages again before leaving the classroom.
ChocoPrompt87: REMIND MY DUMBASS TO SILENCE MY PHONE IN CLASS;;;
It was him. He made a split second decision and turned and headed to the area where the nurses office was located, spotting Argentum just leaving and heading towards the school exit.
“Wait!” Noct sped walked over to him. The boy turned and froze a moment watching Noctis approach.
“H-hey Prince Noctis! How’s it going?” The kid looked a bit stiff but his face appeared friendly.
Noct got a closer look. He looked lean but strong. His face colored with a surprised blush that probably gave him lots of trouble hiding his reactions. Freckles decorated his face but his eyes caught his attention. Bright wide lavender eyes focused on him and left Noct feeling tongue-tied. He felt his own face warming.
“You need to get the notes from History class, right?” Noct blurted.
“OH! Uhh.. yeah. Would probably help me not straight out fail the next test.” He gave a small lopsided grin and turned towards Noct.
“You can have mine.” Noct tried appearing relaxed despite his knees threatening to shake him to the ground.
His classmate paused and stared at him a moment.
“... I’d be really thankful but I didn’t know you took notes in History? I thought you slept through that class.” He laughed awkwardly, with a questioning look.
FUCK.
Nocts brain went blank. He forgot that he literally never took notes in that class because he didn’t need them.
“I mean-! I could tell you what you missed or you let me know what you need or something-” Why wouldn’t his mouth stop.
“ Uhh.. Thanks? I mean- that’s really cool of- of you?” Argentum stuttered. “I know you’re busy as hell and I don’t want to waste your time-”
“Not a waste! At all!” Nocts mouth continued to betray him. “We should hang out! Outside of school sometime!”
His classmate looked stunned and was actively trying to work through being steamrolled by the sudden shock of having never spoken to the Prince before and now suddenly being asked to hang out.
“S-sure? Call me sometime and we’ll.. Uh.. figure something out?”
The awkward was palpable and the short burst of car horn alerting Noct to Ignis waiting just at the curb for him couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I’ll talk to you soon!” Noct muttered making his escape.
“See you Later?” Argentum said weakly, shooting fingerguns as he watched Noctis make his way into the car.
Noct practically dove into the backseat and closed the door, shrinking into himself and groaning. Ignis raised an eyebrow at him then looked over towards the classmate he just word vomited all over.
“Everything all right, your Highness?” Ignis was taking mental notes of the classmates appearance just in case he’d bothered Noct.
“Ignis, my friend. My best Bro. Advisor and witness to my awkward ass. Why the hell am I such an dumbass? ”
Ignis looked him over. “You’ll have to elaborate.”
Noctis snorted quietly, head in his hands.
“You know the person I’ve been talking to in Kingsnight?”
“You haven’t given him any identifying information, have you?”
“Of course not. I know the safety drills. But I think it might be someone in my class?”
Ignis paused a moment, processing. Initially he’d been worried with how much time Noct had been spending on his phone in that game. Doubly so when he’d found out he’d been speaking to a random player for months on end. He was ready to launch a covert investigation into who was spending so much time online with him as well as go over internet security protocols with Noctis once again when Noct reassured him he was being careful. He never gave any identifying information away and was very careful in his interactions. Ignis had been ready to tell Noct to cease contact but after going over their interactions it became clear Noct needed this. Speaking to this person put him at ease and helped him release stress in ways Ignis had not been able to.
But that this person was someone in his class had alarm bells ringing in Ignis’s head.
Noct filled him in on the message notifications that went off in class and his subsequent social flailing that followed as Ignis drove.
“I can talk to Duchesses and their daughters and Councilmen and what not and be all smooth but I can’t talk to regular people my own age without fucking it up and scaring them off.” Noct mumbled, depressed sounding. “If this is ChocoPrompt87 then I really really don’t want to fuck this up. He’s a good guy.”
“What did you say his name was?” Ignis asked. Noct gave him a sharp look and he quickly added on, “Considering how well you two already get on in the game I see no reason you wouldn’t get on well in person. One of the main draws to speaking online is that you’re able to relax and be yourself without worry of judgement so you can say he already knows you, and your idiosyncrasies. Since you will be socializing together in the near future I merely thought I’d get his background check out of the way and get the regular protocols going to smooth the way.”
Noct relaxed and a warm rare smile spread across his face and lit into his eyes.
“I know his last name is Argentum. Not sure about the first. Thanks specs.”
Ignis felt his mouth pulling into a small smile.
“Of course.”
“Is there any way you can keep this quiet until I’ve actually made headway into making friends with him? You know how our group can get and I don’t want them to scare him off.”
“I’ll run the security check on him personally, and I won’t bring the details up to the security team until we have the date you two will be hanging out on together more set. Have you contacted him to figure out when he might be available?”
Nocts face went blank.
“FUCKING HELL WE DIDN’T EVEN EXCHANGE INFORMATION!”
Nocts fingers hovered over the messaging box. He had no idea how to broach the subject that he was 99% sure he knew him in real life, but he’d left his last message unresponded to for too long.
NoctGar: SUCKS TO BE YOUUUUUUUU. LMAO Just tell the Prof ur busy saving your friends ass from monsters.
ChocoPrompt87: YEAH THAT WOULD WORK. PARDON ME SIR MY FRIEND SUCKS ASS AT TANKING AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS DRAGON DOESN’T MAKE HIM INTO AN ASS SAMMICH lol
NoctGar: ROOD. MY ASS WOULD BE THE FINEST DELICACY. LIKE A ROAST. MAYBE YOURS ONLY QUALIFIES AS A SAMMICH BUT MINE IS PRIME
ChocoPrompt87: lmao PARDON ME FOR MALIGNING YOUR MAN MEAT.
NoctGar: FORGIVEN!
ChocoPrompt87: (ノ^o^)ノ ~~~~~<3*
NoctGar: DID YOU JUST YEET THE LOVE AT ME
ChocoPrompt87: QUESTION NOT THE LOVE FOR WHAT I YEETETH I CAN YOINKETH AWAY.
NoctGar: GASP
ChocoPrompt87: I still think the KingsNight app sucks for not allowing us to send pics! I was on a run this morning and CAME ACROSS AN ANGEL
NoctGar: LIKE THE THOUSAND EYES ON A WEIRD WHEEL KIND OR~?
ChocoPrompt87: WTF KIND OF ANGELS DO YOU HAVE WHERE YOU LIVE
ChocoPrompt87: A DOG.
ChocoPrompt87: A BEST BOY
ChocoPrompt87: A LOVELY BORK
ChocoPrompt87: MY SOUL WAS CLEANSED
Sensing a way to invite Prom into a different chat medium Noct quickly Opened his Eris Messenger app and created a new group chat. He looked over the other group chats he had going with his friends and security team, seeing all the pictures and emoticons they sent that morning and made a note to himself to pop in and comment. He clicked the group invite link for the new group he created and switched back over to the Kings Night app.
NoctGar: HEY
ChocoPrompt87: :O
NoctGar: I’ve been thinking
ChocoPrompt87: :O does it hurt?
NoctGar:凸( •̀_•́ )凸
NoctGar: We’ve been hanging out on here for almost a year. We know each other pretty well. You’re a really good friend
ChocoPrompt87: If you’re asking for my hand i require a blood sacrifice and at least 87 goats as tribute for my dowry.
NoctGar: A;DOFIJA;OWEISJD;FLKS;LK!!!!
NoctGar: HERE’S A LINK TO MY ERIS SERVER I JUST PUT TOGETHER http://eris.server.join?/tn-24444-1 JUST CLICK THIS AND SHOW ME THE BORK
ChocoPrompt87: :O!
Noct sent the link and sat back nervously. Would he accept the invite or was it too weird? He opened the Eris app and waited to see if ChocoPrompt would show up.
And waited.
And waited.
His nerves reaching their peak he switched back over to the Kings Knight app.
ChocoPrompt87: JOINED AND SHARED
ChocoPrompt87: … dude there are a lot of people here. It appears they like the dog pic though??
ChocoPrompt87: lmao your group of friends are awesome!!
ChocoPrompt87: where are you???? Do you have the same username over here??
Noct squinted at his messages in confusion. The server he made had only him and ChocoPrompt as the only members so no one else should have been there.
...WAIT
He switched over to the large chat and started scrolling through with a growing horror.
*********************
SMOLflowerShield: ALL I’M SAYING IS THAT IT SERVES YOU RIGHT.
TOLCupNood: The hell it does! IT WAS ONE TIME @SMOLflowerShield !!
SMOLflowerShield: AND AS YOU NOW KNOW ONE TIME IS ALL IT TAKES. PUT THE #$#$!!! TOILET SEAT DOWN
TOLCupNood: You’re the odd man out here! There are more men than women here SO IT MAKES SENSE TO LEAVE IT UP
SMOLflowerShield: YET YOU GOT SPOILED BY THE FACT I NORMALLY PUT IT DOWN AND YOU ASSUMED IT WAS DOWN AT 3 AM
TOLCupNood: ONE TIME
SMOLflowerShield: AND YOUR GIANT ASS FELL IN LMAO KNOW MY PAIN
TOLCupNood: DON’T SAY ASS YOU’RE A CHILD. WHY DON’T YOU JUST USE THE BATHROOM CLOSER TO YOUR ROOM AND LEAVE THIS ONE TO ME
SMOLflowerShield: D: BECAUSE IT’S CREEPY AS HELL AT 3AM AND HAUNTED BY SOMETHING DO YOU WANT ME TO GET EATEN BY GHOSTS
HERO-NUX: lmao What kind of a big bro would let his sis get eaten by a toilet ghost c’mon now
SMOLflowerShield: THANK YOU
KINGKING69: why is everyone shouting
ServBot: ChocoPrompt87 has made their arrival!!
ChocoPrompt87: THIS IS THE ANGEL I WAS TALKING ABOUT!
ChocoPrompt87: bork.jpg loaded
ChocoPrompt87: NO ONE NEEDS YOUR CREEPY ASS EYE WHEELS ON THEIR MORNING RUNS DUDE
SMOLflowerShield: BORK
HERO-NUX: …………
ChocoPrompt87: … uh;;;;;
ChocoPrompt87: where my man meat at???;;;;
TOLCupNood: … Who is this and who gave them access to this server
ChocoPrompt87: OH. SORRY GUYS
ChocoPrompt87: You know NoctGar too?? I thought he was inviting me to a private 1x1 server and didn’t know everyone else would be here. I’m the guy who kicks NoctGars ass at Kings Night all the time! Nice to meet you! ۹(ÒہÓ)۶
KINGKING69: are you a friend of Noct’s??
HERO-NUX: @FancyFlame I think you should be here. Security breach.
ChocoPrompt87: :O ~kill bill siren plays~ I HAVE COME TO INFILTRATE WITH DOG PICTURES.
ChocoPrompt87: bork2.jpg
ChocoPrompt87: bork3.jpg
SMOLflowerShield: OMG LOOK AT THAT FUZZY TUM AAAAAAAA I’M CLEANSED
ChocoPrompt87: RIGHT?! MY FIELDS HAVE BEEN WATERED
SMOLflowerShield: MY CROPS ARE THRIVING
ChocoPrompt87: MY GRADES ARE UP
SMOLflowerShield: THE SUN IS SHINING
ChocoPrompt87: YES YOU GET ME! <3
SMOLflowerShield: <3 <3 <3!!!
KINGKING69: What a lovely boy
ChocoPrompt87: Sorry for not responding sooner! Yea i’m friends with NoctGar :D You here buddy??
FancyFlame:.....
FancyFlame: I believe I know who this is @HERO-NUX
FancyFlame: You’re the ranged fighter who backs NoctGar up in the KingsNight app, am i correct??
ChocoPrompt87: IT ME
TOLCupNood: So it’s not a breach and just a fuckup by the princess?? Figured -_-;;
ChocoPrompt87: ...shhhouuuulld i not be here??
KINGKING69: As long as we all respect the anonymity of the group I see no reason for Nocts friend not to join us.
ChocoPrompt87: Gotcha!
TOLCupNood: WAIT
TOLCupNood: YOU’RE THE ONE HE’S BEEN CHILLING WITH ONLINE WHEN HE WANTS TO AVOID TRAINING
ChocoPrompt87: IT MEEEEE
ChocoPrompt87: DUDE ARE YOU THE PERSONAL TRAINER HE’S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
TOLCupNood: …. Maybe… ? depends on what he’s said..? >>;
ChocoPrompt87: LOLLLLLLL I keep telling him if he doesn’t train IRL HOW CAN I COUNT ON HIM TRAINING IN KINGSKNIGHT. Dude just barrells straight into battles without thinking and i’m all S;ODIFJA;OISFJLKJ
ChocoPrompt87: letsgetdowntobusinessMulan.gif
TOLCupNood: LMAO SEE NOCTGAR
TOLCupNood: EVEN UR FRIEND THINKS IT’S LAME YOU SKIP OUT
FancyFlame: His strategy does leave much to be desired…
ChocoPrompt87: GIT GUUD NOCTGAR ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
NoctGar: WE;OIALSJKDF;OAISDLFJK
FancyFlame: elegantly put as usual
HERO-NUX: lmao I feel like I can hear the warbling panic from here
NoctGar: I AM SO SORRY CHOCOPROMPT I SENT THE WRONG LINK INVITE I’M A DUMBASS
FancyFlame: … From his own mouth
TolCupNood: IT HAS BEEN RECORDED
HERO-NUX: FOR THE RECORDS ETERNALLY
NoctGar: D:
ChocoPrompt87: LOL I FIGURED. If you want I can jump out of this server and into the one you meant?
SMOLflowerShield: NOOOOOOOOOOOO
SMOLflowerShield: PLS STAY;;;
ChocoPrompt87: AWW <3 YOU’RE THE BEST
SMOLflowerShield: NO YOU ARE YOU MEMED WITH ME AND GAVE ME DOG PICS <3
ChocoPrompt87: bork4.jpg
SMOLflowerShield: EEEEEEEEEEEEEE
HERO-NUX: lmao have another vote for staying
TOLCupNood: lol this should be good (ʃƪ¬‿¬)
ChocoPrompt87: …. DUDE THAT LOOKS LIKE A LENNY FACE WITH A DICK;;;
TOLCupNood: AWOEISDLFJ;LSKDFJ IT’S NOT
TOLCupNood: (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
ChocoPrompt87: ┬─┬ノ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ノ)
ChocoPrompt87: all I’m saying is TOO SOON BRO BUY ME DINNER FIRST
TOLCupNood: AW;DOSILFKJL;SKDJF NO;;;
ChocoPrompt87: (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞~~~ <3
NoctGar: .. lmao wtf dude I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE YOU YEETED LOVE TO
SMOLflowerShield: GASP
ChocoPrompt87: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)=ε✄~~~<3 nvm U SAW NOTHING
SMOLflowerShield: RON IS A HOE
HERO-NUX: AHAHAHAH
ChocoPrompt87: LMAO
Chocoprompt87: U WANT -
TOLCupNood: MINORS ARE PRESENT
ChocoPrompt87: … some totally platonic love and cuddles bro style??
NoctGar: BRO
ChocoPrompt87: BROOOOOOOOOOOO <3
FancyFlame: I fully support him being here as well as long as we all respect each others privacy. As such I’ll remind you all that we do not use our actual names in this chat for security reasons. If you have any questions about the rules please feel free to DM me.
KingKing69: WELCOME
ChocoPrompt87: SWEET!! Y’all can call me whatever you want but online I go by Choco or Prom so WHATEVER IS COOL
NoctGar: .. it cool if I call you Prom??
ChocoPrompt87: +v+ MY DUDE. I JUST SAID THAT
NoctGar: LOL TRUE. .. I guess NoctGar works?
ChocoPrompt87: That’s a bit of a mouth full lmao no nick name? Noct or Gar?
NoctGar: MOUTHFUL
SMOLflowerShield: MOUTH FULLLLLLLL LOL
TOLCupNoods: D:
HERO-NUX: …..(ಡ艸ಡ) i hope you all appreciate just how much i am holding back in here lmao
FancyFlame: …..Gar is what he usually prefers
ChocoPrompt87: GARRRRRRRRRR <3
ChocoPrompt87: lol gotcha. I need to head into work in a bit but NICE MEETING YOU ALL! <3
KingKing69: I hope you have a lovely day at your work.
NoctGar: TAKE CARE PROM <3
ChocoPrompt87 is now idle
HERO-NUX: .. I AM RUBBING MY GLEEFUL LITTLE FLY HANDS TOGETHER.
NoctGar: WERIOSDJFL;K WTF WHY
HERO-NUX: ψ(^Ф∀Ф^)ψ because YOU’RE TOTALLY CRUSHING
NoctGar: THE FUCK I AM DON’T SAY WEIRD THINGS IN THE CHAT WHERE ANYONE CAN MISUNDERSTAND
HERO-NUX: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
SMOLflowerShield: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
TOLCupNood: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
KingKing69:......... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
NoctGar: DAMMIT IF YOU ALL SCARE HIM OFF I’M GOING TO BE PISSED ASLDKFJLSDKF I’M TAKING A STRESS NAP. LATER
SMOLflowerShield: （⌒▽⌒） LOL <3 I SUPPORT U JUST SO YOU KNOW HE SEEMS NICE
Noct groaned into his hands. This was going to be a disaster.
His Kings Knight app ringtone pinged and he glanced down to see ChocoPrompt87 had messaged him there.
ChocoPrompt87: HEY
ChocoPrompt87: I just wanted to make sure
ChocoPrompt87: that it was ok that I stayed in that server. It seems like you all are pretty tight and I know that’s not the one you initially wanted me in.
ChocoPrompt87: If you’re uncomfortable with me there I can silently bow out and jump into the one you want. No worries ok?
Noctis felt guilty. How could he deserve to be friends with such a nice person? Prom had no idea he knew him in real life and it felt shady to let this go on without saying anything. Ignis had suggested waiting to let him know he was NoctGar until the security check cleared. If Prom even wanted to be friends with him after finding out who he really was and the hassles anyone would have to put up with just to hang out with him… He picked up his phone again before he could talk himself out of it.
NoctGar: IT’S ALL GOOD. I’m still dying over that freaking cute dog
ChocoPrompt87: RIGHT!? I run every morning and I normally see him but HE FINALLY CAME OVER TO LOVE ON ME FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I ALMOST CRIED.
ChocoPrompt87: PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED.
NoctGar: LMAO I CAN PICTURE IT NOW. CRYING AMONGST THE DOGS AND WATERFOWL AT THE PARK
ChocoPrompt87: YES IT’S LIKE YOU WERE THERE. BTW I am SUPER EXCITED to show you more of my pictures!! I find SO MUCH WEIRD SHIT AROUND THE AREA I LIVE AND HAD NO ONE TO SPAM
NoctGar: OH SHIT :O
ChocoPrompt87: PREPARE YOURSELF LMAO
NoctGar: … honestly though, I can’t wait. You’re my favorite person to talk to.
ChocoPrompt87: I LOVE YOU TOO BRO （○゜ε＾○）
Noct choked and his face flushed. Why was their normal banter getting to him? He pictured Proms face from school, the flushed dazed look he gave him when Noct ran up to him. He pictured his lips saying his name and had to get up and walk around the room, jittering.
NoctGar: BRO <3
ChocoPrompt87: BROOOOO~~~ for real though you’re cool with me there??
NoctGar: Yes. As long as you don’t mind the other weirdos in the chat I think you’d fit right in.
ChocoPrompt87: COOL. I have to head to work for real now though!! TTYL!
NoctGar: LATER!
He shook himself out, mentally picturing flinging his stress off before sitting down at his desk, plugging his phone in. Pulling out a notebook he started making notes on what he remembered from that days history class.
At least he'd be prepared for tomorrow.