He isn't expecting what Gladio does next - at the same time, Prompto's greedy when he's busted up like this and y'know what, he's totally taking this. His eyes drift shut after a surprised moment to bask in the moment, in the other man's presence. What it means to be Gladio's friend and before this, he'd wondered if they'd be more. If there was something after Noct did his thing with the Crystal. It had seemed far away after the train, after Ardyn and his fun rack, and suddenly it's swimming back into focus and Gladio is front and center.

Prompto swallows, throat closing up, and it has nothing to do with what Ardyn did or the Nif potion burning. His hand cups Gladio's, his numb fingers dwarfed by the larger man's and, he imagines, warming with his body heat.

"Thank you."

For all of this. For being there. Prompto could run down a whole list of everything he's grateful to Gladio for and none of it seems like it would cover all the bases. He pulls back after a moment, blinking quickly again and this time his eyes are glistening as he reaches up and rubs at his eyes before it's obvious he's tearing up. Probably too late. Maybe he should just bite the bullet and run with that secret moment they have between them. Prompto focuses on Gladio, drinking in every detail of his face, the smudges of dirt, the new scar slashed across his forehead that he still hasn't explained, and he runs with it:

"Gladio, I was thinking - "

And because they can't have anything nice, that's exactly when the dorm's intercom system buzzes on and Ardyn's voice purrs through the static:

"It's so very heartwarming to see a reunion between friends."