[ his protest is quieted by a sudden surge of trying to fix whatever this miscommunication might be, looping his arms around him and pressing close. their noses touch, and prompto squeezes him in a loose embrace. ]
I just mean... I wanna be that for you. [ he wants clive to be happy too. ] I wanna be more than that, but what if – [ damn, he hadn't wanted to think about that, much less talk about it. ] Probably not the best time to bring it up – But what if we, um, get separated?
[ and he doesn't mean losing track of each other. he means clive going home. ]
[ oof. stupid move, Rosfield. his expression slides into a frown, thoughtful, but he stays where he is, elbows bracketing either side of Prompto's face. ]
Then I spend my life aching for you in Valisthea.
[ simply. a matter of fact. Clive can only feel how he feels, and he sighs through his next exhale, shoulders drawing back just a sliver. ]
...I can't say that the thought of taking you with me hasn't crossed my mind. A selfish, monstrous thing to think.
[ after experiencing displacement, wishing it on someone he's come to care for is more than slightly horrendous, he's sure. his brows slant, apologetic for even speaking the words into existence. ]
[ so they hold each other and what? hope that they'll be able to stay together?
prompto doesn't like that idea. he also doesn't like the idea of clive returning to valisthea and thinking about him the entire time, never moving on with his life or trying to find some kind of happiness. he isn't that kind of selfish. but he doesn't want to let go of him either, and there seems to be no middle ground... ]
Hey, it's okay. [ not really? but prompto errs on the side of optimism, trying to smooth that frown from clive's face with a gentle sweep of his fingers. ] Seems like we're both kinda thinkin' the same thing.
[ because there's only so much grounding him to his home, which he's already been displaced from several times now. once as a baby and again not so long ago. each time, he's bounced back, and if it happened a third time — he'd be with clive. ]
You think I could? [ his voice is low. ] Go with you?
I don't know, [ is the honest answer, with no platitudes. he allows the fingers traveling over his face to soothe the worst of the concern cleaving into his features, but the contemplation lingers at his edges, leaving him looking sharper than before. strong features, accustomed to pulling tight in concern. ]
...But Valisthea is nothing like this world, with all of its conveniences and culture. I would find a way to take you if I could, but...
[ another exhale, and a slight nuzzle against the side of Prompto's face. ]
[ a moment passes, and prompto slowly winds his arms around clive, drawing him close to hold him there. ]
I don't need any of that stuff to be happy. [ he's not that shallow. ] But it's nice you're thinking of me.
[ for the first time in a long time, he's comfortable enough to be himself around someone else. that someone likes him and is fond enough of him to consider all those different aspects, and he doesn't want to let go of it any time soon. prompto might not know anything about other worlds – unless video games count – or how to survive in them, but if they're together, they could manage it somehow. ]
Maybe we can figure it out. [ there's a light kiss to the side of clive's jaw. ] And you can tell me more about Valisthea while we do?
[ Prompto, the first time someone has shown Clive such unconditional kindness with no reason to do so. no questions aside from the perfunctory, no judgment aside from simple teasing, no doubt as to the veracity of Clive's claims about being a man out of time and space. no demands have been made of Clive in the interim, no attempt to balance what he perceives as uneven contribution between the two of them in this journey.
new, and touching. all his life, Clive has been proving his worth: a son who his mother couldn't love, a royal-turned-soldier, a slave, an outlaw. Prompto has asked him about none of those things; when he calls Clive by his name, just his name, Clive believes that Prompto is looking at him, and no one else. ]
...Yes. Perhaps I can speak to the tomeskeeper in the next town for some counsel.
[ local jock, in sore need of some books. Clive pauses, then lifts just enough to pass a quick smile Prompto's way. ]
And I can tell you everything you want to know. Though I can't guarantee my skills as a storyteller. [ a little shift, and Clive makes the executive decision to slide downwards a bit to dot kisses to Prompto's collarbone. ] You'll need some time to think, too. Take it.
[ for whatever reason, the thought of it all is suddenly so intensely overwhelming that clive's voice serves as a better distraction from his own thoughts than anything else, and he hums softly in agreement, letting his fingers slip into dark hair again. such a decision shouldn't be made like this, he knows. but he's always been so quick to give away the deepest parts of himself, and if clive would want any of that in any way...
the dangerous feeling of attachment crawls up into his throat again. ]
I'm sure you're not as bad as you make it sound. [ there. a gentle ribbing, and as clive moves, prompto presses up against him. ] But uh, yeah. I'll think about it. And try to, I dunno, come up with a plan too.
[ information gathering, etc. whatever he needs to do, he'll do it. and maybe show clive the internet... but all of that is taking a backseat to the gentle affection between them. and in an effort to change topics, his voice drops a bit lower. ]
So... d'you really wanna spend the entire day like this?
[ safe search turned on, for when Clive learns the internet. there's still internal kicking about breaching the subject of Valisthea and his thoughts on bringing Prompto along, but the cat is out of the proverbial bag; he can juggle his guilt alongside his due diligence.
later. Clive needs more information, and he needs to figure out what his duties are in this world; right now, all they have is the truth of their bodies, and their closeness.
he slides further down, down from clavicle to sternum, and licks a long stripe down to Prompto's navel. ]
You'd get restless, I think.
[ so he says, as he considers cleaning Prompto's come off his stomach with his mouth. an open-mouthed kiss to his stomach, and Clive hums there for a moment. ]
[ it's true. he would get restless, but he's restless almost anywhere, so it wouldn't have made a difference to him. he could ramble on about anything clive would want to know. or maybe they could sleep in more; prompto has a suspicion that clive hadn't gotten much rest considering how he had felt waking up but...
none of that matters the moment clive's mouth slides over his stomach. ]
Ah, maybe. [ the slightest wiggle, and he's immediately parting his thighs just a little. almost in invitation. ] But I don't mind if – if you're needing the break.
[ a hand settling in clive's hair, prompto glances down and feels his pulse race. ]
You're really hot. You know that? [ he suddenly has the urge to talk, so that's what he does. ] Like, I wanted to help you at first 'cuz you seemed so lost, but also... I don't know. I wanted to touch your armor. [ a light pull to clive's hair. ] Wanted to get the right angle and capture all of you forever.
[ "hot", Clive has learned, doesn't always refer to temperature; a funny lesson in not worrying about whether Ifrit was leaking out of him unwittingly. he smiles at the designation, nose to navel with his tongue raking over the ridges of Prompto's toned stomach, cleaning off some of the residual stickiness lingering on his skin. ]
If I caught your eye in any way, I consider myself fortunate.
[ Prompto has an eye for capturing things with blistering honesty, Clive thinks, which makes being the subject of his focus quite flattering.
he nuzzles downwards, dotting kisses along Prompto's hip. marveling at how prettily he opens himself up for Clive's touches. his mouth finds a smooth inner thigh, and the temptation to leave a lovebite there is too strong; his scarred cheek brushes along pale skin. ]
I never imagined there could be so much joy in being seen by someone.
[ one last warning, before Clive bites. (gently, still.) ]
[ there's certainly a list of things that prompto has yet to teach him, but it doesn't seem all that important with the heat of clive's breath soaking into his skin and the soft tickle of his tongue following after. knowing that he's tasted him causes his face to burn, warmth sitting hot at the back of his neck. yet, it's also an incredible turn-on, holding his breath in anticipation.
the pressure of clive's teeth causes his hips to cant forward ever so slightly. ]
If you're not used to it, [ he answers, pulling just a bit more intentionally at clive's hair. ] Wish everyone could see you the way I do.
[ and that's why he wants to take as many photos of him as he can. to remember and to recall the details that his mind might eventually fail to recreate. even now, prompto wants to find his or clive's phone and record it—still-life or otherwise. but he also wants more of clive's mouth on him, so he doesn't move except for the slightest press of his body against him. ]
[ everyone is a bit of a stretch-- he laughs about it to himself, soft and nearly inaudible, and sits up after another kiss to Prompto's hip bone. ]
You're enough, I think.
[ he misses Prompto's fingers in his hair (a new discovery: he likes it when Prompto pulls), but he sits up and stretches sideways, rummaging blindly through the clothes he discarded the night prior for his phone.
once in his possession, he relinquishes it easily to Prompto. ]
[ it takes his brain a moment to figure out what it is clive's doing, but as soon as he has the phone, prompto smiles at him. also clearly amused. ]
C'mere. [ there's a tug on clive's hand, drawing him up along the bed. ] Lay like this, and I'll – yeah, okay. I think this'll work.
[ with clive positioned half on his side and half on his back, prompto makes space for himself within the curve of his body. he only needs one hand to tilt the phone's camera in such a way that it captures both of them, even going so far as to turn his face into clive and press the softest kiss to his shoulder. its automatic setting takes them for him as long as he keeps his arm steady, and there should be some decent ones in there.
he offers clive back his phone with the camera roll open. ] Wanna take a look?
[ the position is comfortable and sweet, so Clive keeps it. an arm wraps around Prompto's waist, cuddling him closer while he sifts through the photos they just took.
and... well. there's still something strange about seeing his own face looking back at him from a surface that isn't a mirror or a lake; Clive has never cared much for his appearance after losing his homeland, more concerned with strength rather than neatness, utility rather than style-- it's an odd thing, having his softer, less guarded moments kept in perpetuity.
he clears his throat, suddenly a bit shy. ]
...You look beautiful.
[ an easier thing to be certain about. Prompto and his sweet smile pressed against his shoulder, long-limbed and bite-dotted. freckled and soft and impossibly lovely. Clive focuses on him instead, sliding through the series of pictures and chuckling softly at the ones where one or both of their eyes are closed. ]
[ clive swipes through the pics, and prompto distracts himself with soft kisses to a bare shoulder. he's not entirely unfamiliar with the concept of being allowed these things, especially since they've crossed several intimate lines. but there's still a kind of hesitance to them, a gentle exploration of every muscle and each shape that comprises clive.
he's at his jaw, fingers tracing along it when those words hit him. ]
Only because you say so. [ compliments are a difficult thing to swallow when he's not thinking with other parts of himself. ] It sounds nice coming from you.
[ not to imply anything else by it; his self-esteem is generally on the low side unfortunately. but he recovers with a firmer kiss to the corner of clive's mouth, very obviously trying to turn his attention away from the pics back to him. ]
I think you are too, you know. [ beautiful. handsome. sexy. hot. a million other words prompto doesn't have time to list that include things other than how clive looks. ]
[ there's no world in which Prompto isn't blisteringly stunning, but Clive sets that argument aside along with his phone. the subtle jockeying for his attention is cute, as if Prompto needs to do much to get it; Clive tilts sideways into the welcome warmth of soft lips, meets them with a low hum and a full-bodied shift.
he kisses Prompto like that, for a good while. noses against him, strokes his jaw. almost forgets to respond to the sweet reciprocation of beautiful, even if he thinks it doesn't apply－ he feels more unkempt than not most of the time, but he said so before, that he's glad if any part of him caught Prompto's eye.
when he finally pulls back, giving the both of them space to breathe: ] ...Don't make me feel so fond. It'll become impossible to leave you, even for a moment.
[ his things are still in the other room; they'll have to leave this motel eventually. but it'll be agonizing to peel their bodies apart, and Clive isn't looking forward to it.
so he kisses Prompto again, and licks inside his mouth. i like you, is the prevailing sentiment. i like you unreasonably. ]
[ it's a nice sort of haze to fall back into, lazily kissing and exploring one another without the hurry of more demanding things. prompto's lips part, letting his tongue press to clive's and reciprocating each and every touch with one of his own. fingers in his hair, down his shoulders and back. a soft squeeze at his hips.
prompto laughs between them, unable to resist clive's own charm. ]
So don't. [ it's lighthearted enough to not carry the weight of words neither of them will speak again so soon. ] Stay with me as long as you want.
[ they don't have to worry about later or tomorrow or what if. they can just enjoy each other until they're too exhausted to do much else, and even then... well. prompto isn't going to think about the future just yet. it's daunting, and he'd like to treasure the time they do have left. the moments that have cemented a place in his heart. ]
[ Clive breathes between his teeth when Prompto says as long as you want. he wonders if Prompto knows what he's saying, and how he's saying it― as if Clive has the luxury to prove for a long, long time, then.
maybe forever. that's far too much, when they've sorted through far too little. so he hugs Prompto closer, keeping him nested skin to skin, nearly seamless. it's not enough, now that Clive knows what it feels like to be inside of him, what it feels like to rut into him and be held so close that he can feign the sweet delusion of oneness, but it's perfect regardless. ]
Then I'll sleep for a while more. [ nestled and vulnerable, without his sword. it's fine. he feels safe around Prompto. ] ...And I'll bring you to peak at least once more before we leave this bed.
[ his eyes close, but his lips arch up in a smile. ]
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[ his protest is quieted by a sudden surge of trying to fix whatever this miscommunication might be, looping his arms around him and pressing close. their noses touch, and prompto squeezes him in a loose embrace. ]
I just mean... I wanna be that for you. [ he wants clive to be happy too. ] I wanna be more than that, but what if – [ damn, he hadn't wanted to think about that, much less talk about it. ] Probably not the best time to bring it up – But what if we, um, get separated?
[ and he doesn't mean losing track of each other. he means clive going home. ]
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Then I spend my life aching for you in Valisthea.
[ simply. a matter of fact. Clive can only feel how he feels, and he sighs through his next exhale, shoulders drawing back just a sliver. ]
...I can't say that the thought of taking you with me hasn't crossed my mind. A selfish, monstrous thing to think.
[ after experiencing displacement, wishing it on someone he's come to care for is more than slightly horrendous, he's sure. his brows slant, apologetic for even speaking the words into existence. ]
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prompto doesn't like that idea. he also doesn't like the idea of clive returning to valisthea and thinking about him the entire time, never moving on with his life or trying to find some kind of happiness. he isn't that kind of selfish. but he doesn't want to let go of him either, and there seems to be no middle ground... ]
Hey, it's okay. [ not really? but prompto errs on the side of optimism, trying to smooth that frown from clive's face with a gentle sweep of his fingers. ] Seems like we're both kinda thinkin' the same thing.
[ because there's only so much grounding him to his home, which he's already been displaced from several times now. once as a baby and again not so long ago. each time, he's bounced back, and if it happened a third time — he'd be with clive. ]
You think I could? [ his voice is low. ] Go with you?
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...But Valisthea is nothing like this world, with all of its conveniences and culture. I would find a way to take you if I could, but...
[ another exhale, and a slight nuzzle against the side of Prompto's face. ]
Not at the expense of your happiness. Never.
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I don't need any of that stuff to be happy. [ he's not that shallow. ] But it's nice you're thinking of me.
[ for the first time in a long time, he's comfortable enough to be himself around someone else. that someone likes him and is fond enough of him to consider all those different aspects, and he doesn't want to let go of it any time soon. prompto might not know anything about other worlds – unless video games count – or how to survive in them, but if they're together, they could manage it somehow. ]
Maybe we can figure it out. [ there's a light kiss to the side of clive's jaw. ] And you can tell me more about Valisthea while we do?
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new, and touching. all his life, Clive has been proving his worth: a son who his mother couldn't love, a royal-turned-soldier, a slave, an outlaw. Prompto has asked him about none of those things; when he calls Clive by his name, just his name, Clive believes that Prompto is looking at him, and no one else. ]
...Yes. Perhaps I can speak to the tomeskeeper in the next town for some counsel.
[ local jock, in sore need of some books. Clive pauses, then lifts just enough to pass a quick smile Prompto's way. ]
And I can tell you everything you want to know. Though I can't guarantee my skills as a storyteller. [ a little shift, and Clive makes the executive decision to slide downwards a bit to dot kisses to Prompto's collarbone. ] You'll need some time to think, too. Take it.
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the dangerous feeling of attachment crawls up into his throat again. ]
I'm sure you're not as bad as you make it sound. [ there. a gentle ribbing, and as clive moves, prompto presses up against him. ] But uh, yeah. I'll think about it. And try to, I dunno, come up with a plan too.
[ information gathering, etc. whatever he needs to do, he'll do it. and maybe show clive the internet... but all of that is taking a backseat to the gentle affection between them. and in an effort to change topics, his voice drops a bit lower. ]
So... d'you really wanna spend the entire day like this?
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later. Clive needs more information, and he needs to figure out what his duties are in this world; right now, all they have is the truth of their bodies, and their closeness.
he slides further down, down from clavicle to sternum, and licks a long stripe down to Prompto's navel. ]
You'd get restless, I think.
[ so he says, as he considers cleaning Prompto's come off his stomach with his mouth. an open-mouthed kiss to his stomach, and Clive hums there for a moment. ]
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none of that matters the moment clive's mouth slides over his stomach. ]
Ah, maybe. [ the slightest wiggle, and he's immediately parting his thighs just a little. almost in invitation. ] But I don't mind if – if you're needing the break.
[ a hand settling in clive's hair, prompto glances down and feels his pulse race. ]
You're really hot. You know that? [ he suddenly has the urge to talk, so that's what he does. ] Like, I wanted to help you at first 'cuz you seemed so lost, but also... I don't know. I wanted to touch your armor. [ a light pull to clive's hair. ] Wanted to get the right angle and capture all of you forever.
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If I caught your eye in any way, I consider myself fortunate.
[ Prompto has an eye for capturing things with blistering honesty, Clive thinks, which makes being the subject of his focus quite flattering.
he nuzzles downwards, dotting kisses along Prompto's hip. marveling at how prettily he opens himself up for Clive's touches. his mouth finds a smooth inner thigh, and the temptation to leave a lovebite there is too strong; his scarred cheek brushes along pale skin. ]
I never imagined there could be so much joy in being seen by someone.
[ one last warning, before Clive bites. (gently, still.) ]
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the pressure of clive's teeth causes his hips to cant forward ever so slightly. ]
If you're not used to it, [ he answers, pulling just a bit more intentionally at clive's hair. ] Wish everyone could see you the way I do.
[ and that's why he wants to take as many photos of him as he can. to remember and to recall the details that his mind might eventually fail to recreate. even now, prompto wants to find his or clive's phone and record it—still-life or otherwise. but he also wants more of clive's mouth on him, so he doesn't move except for the slightest press of his body against him. ]
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You're enough, I think.
[ he misses Prompto's fingers in his hair (a new discovery: he likes it when Prompto pulls), but he sits up and stretches sideways, rummaging blindly through the clothes he discarded the night prior for his phone.
once in his possession, he relinquishes it easily to Prompto. ]
If you'd like, [ is a little amused. ]
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C'mere. [ there's a tug on clive's hand, drawing him up along the bed. ] Lay like this, and I'll – yeah, okay. I think this'll work.
[ with clive positioned half on his side and half on his back, prompto makes space for himself within the curve of his body. he only needs one hand to tilt the phone's camera in such a way that it captures both of them, even going so far as to turn his face into clive and press the softest kiss to his shoulder. its automatic setting takes them for him as long as he keeps his arm steady, and there should be some decent ones in there.
he offers clive back his phone with the camera roll open. ] Wanna take a look?
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and... well. there's still something strange about seeing his own face looking back at him from a surface that isn't a mirror or a lake; Clive has never cared much for his appearance after losing his homeland, more concerned with strength rather than neatness, utility rather than style-- it's an odd thing, having his softer, less guarded moments kept in perpetuity.
he clears his throat, suddenly a bit shy. ]
...You look beautiful.
[ an easier thing to be certain about. Prompto and his sweet smile pressed against his shoulder, long-limbed and bite-dotted. freckled and soft and impossibly lovely. Clive focuses on him instead, sliding through the series of pictures and chuckling softly at the ones where one or both of their eyes are closed. ]
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he's at his jaw, fingers tracing along it when those words hit him. ]
Only because you say so. [ compliments are a difficult thing to swallow when he's not thinking with other parts of himself. ] It sounds nice coming from you.
[ not to imply anything else by it; his self-esteem is generally on the low side unfortunately. but he recovers with a firmer kiss to the corner of clive's mouth, very obviously trying to turn his attention away from the pics back to him. ]
I think you are too, you know. [ beautiful. handsome. sexy. hot. a million other words prompto doesn't have time to list that include things other than how clive looks. ]
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he kisses Prompto like that, for a good while. noses against him, strokes his jaw. almost forgets to respond to the sweet reciprocation of beautiful, even if he thinks it doesn't apply－ he feels more unkempt than not most of the time, but he said so before, that he's glad if any part of him caught Prompto's eye.
when he finally pulls back, giving the both of them space to breathe: ] ...Don't make me feel so fond. It'll become impossible to leave you, even for a moment.
[ his things are still in the other room; they'll have to leave this motel eventually. but it'll be agonizing to peel their bodies apart, and Clive isn't looking forward to it.
so he kisses Prompto again, and licks inside his mouth. i like you, is the prevailing sentiment. i like you unreasonably. ]
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prompto laughs between them, unable to resist clive's own charm. ]
So don't. [ it's lighthearted enough to not carry the weight of words neither of them will speak again so soon. ] Stay with me as long as you want.
[ they don't have to worry about later or tomorrow or what if. they can just enjoy each other until they're too exhausted to do much else, and even then... well. prompto isn't going to think about the future just yet. it's daunting, and he'd like to treasure the time they do have left. the moments that have cemented a place in his heart. ]
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maybe forever. that's far too much, when they've sorted through far too little. so he hugs Prompto closer, keeping him nested skin to skin, nearly seamless. it's not enough, now that Clive knows what it feels like to be inside of him, what it feels like to rut into him and be held so close that he can feign the sweet delusion of oneness, but it's perfect regardless. ]
Then I'll sleep for a while more. [ nestled and vulnerable, without his sword. it's fine. he feels safe around Prompto. ] ...And I'll bring you to peak at least once more before we leave this bed.
[ his eyes close, but his lips arch up in a smile. ]