EDIT: First of all, I am so sorry for the inconvenience of the reupload, but I have had major techincal issues with submitting updates on Heart of a Tool. I'm blaming the Android app's Doc Manager feature I've been trying out, since this has never happened before I started to use that. (I've sent the bug reports about it, though.) Has anyone else had problems uploading lately? Anyway, I decided it was probably the best I deleted everything I had on this story, created all-new docs and reuploaded evrything. So, sorry for the spam!

AN: Hi guys! I'm so excited about this fic! I got this idea literally in the middle of the night (since that's when the best ideas usually strike, right?), and it's just a scream! Beta reading by Elillierose again - thanks in advance!

I had intented this to be a lengthy one-shot, but 14 pages down and just about done with the intro, I realized that this'd turn out to be way too long to be a one-shot. It's AU-ish, I guess. I take huge liberties here, but I will try to make it so that it makes sense. Nevertheless, it CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR CANON EVENTS!

I'd like to dedicate this story to Bagpipes5K2. Thanks for all your support! You really spread the love. Now let me return the favor. After Collision, they said that they wanted to see perhaps a Prompto story. So, here's to you! It's not what you expected, but I hope you'll like it.

This alone, you're in time for the show
You're the one that I need

I'm the one that you loathe
You can watch me corrode
Like a beast in repose
'Cause I love all the poison

Away with the boys in the band

My Chemical Romance – The Sharpest Lives

Prompto felt the sun rays warming his cheek, and half-lidded eyes turned to gaze at the sky absentmindedly out of the small glassless window. The cool stone against his back made chills run along his spine despite the gentle warmth. He could hear the cheering crowds outside, but the sound seemed dreamlike. So distant and out of place.

He could have never imagined it'd turn out like this.

He jumped a little at the sound of a weight colliding with the bars further down the hollow hall, then Gladio's heartfelt curses as the metal refused to surrender. With a timid sigh, Prompto dragged himself to sit on his knees and grabbed a hold of the bars that sealed him up into the cramped space of his own, and tried to peer his eyes over to the brute man. "Gladio…"

"I hope you are happy now." Prompto couldn't help a gasp escaping at the sound of Ignis' icy tone; the sound was drenched with malevolence and hate, and it made the blond shiver and swallow.

'Please…' "Iggy, I–"

"Don't you dare speak to me, filth!" he hissed, cutting a venomous glare at the blond to silence him. The pleading look on the other's face was ignored.

In his own cell across the aisle, Ignis leaned against the bars, clenching them with both hands, glaring bloody murder at the younger man. The blond felt his lips moving but nothing came out. Fear, primal and desperate, clenched his chest.

'Please! I-I didn't mean to…!'

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Although morphed a bit by static, glee and satisfaction were audible in the age-worn voice blasting from the speakers. The cheers of the crowd got louder. "Welcome to witness history to be made. The day that marks the dawn of a new era!"

"You belong out there, Prompto. Instead of him," Ignis declared coldly. His hard eyes never left the other's; he didn't even blink.

'No! I didn't know! I swear I didn't know…!'

"Welcome to witness the day-"

'It wasn't my fault!'

"-the last king of Lucis dies!"

.

.

.

Five days earlier

The groovy music sounded from the eatery as Ignis pulled Regalia in to park in front of the hotel. A collective sigh of relief could be heard as everyone stretched and picked themselves up after the day-long drive.

"Here at last," the adviser noted with genuine satisfaction as he got up and rolled his stiff shoulder a little.

"Tell me about it," Noctis grumbled a little as he, too, got out, slightly less gracefully as the other one. "Felt like it'd never end."

"Hmph! Says you. You slept half of the time," Gladio teased. The prince rolled his eyes.

"Hey, don't hate me if you can't catch an eyeful," he shrugged. A dark smirk stretched over the bodyguard's lips, but he made no comment about that.

Ignis was going through their supplies in the trunk and noted, "We have some shopping to do, it seems. We're running low on curatives, and as it so happens, the local spices produce is renowned for its exquisite flavor that I am quite keen on exploring myself. Noct, you wouldn't mind assisting me." It wasn't as much of a question as it was a polite request. For a moment, the prince looked like he was about to refuse but then shook his head and waved his hand in a bored way,

"Yeah, sure, whatever." The strategist flashed a satisfied smile. Taking a note of their requirements, he pushed the hood back down.

"Perfect. Alright then, you two should go on ahead and check in. We'll be with you later." He waved a casual hand at the others as he turned to head out.

"Yes ways!" called Prompto as he flicked his wrist as a goodbye.

"Yeah, and don't forget to get some cup noodles this time!" Gladio yelled at their distancing backs.

Prompto stretched his arms behind his back as he leaned his back long against the car. "So, should we head in?"

"Yeah, sure," the other replied. "Care to join me?" He motioned towards the front desk of the hotel; the blond gave a dismissive shake of his head and shooed him to go on alone. The brute rolled his eyes, but let it go as he strolled over to pay for a room for the night.

The blond had his phone out, tunes of King's Knight sounding from it as he came back with the keys. "Hey. Maybe help me out here?" The tone wasn't exactly irritated but let the other know Gladio wasn't going to be the only one doing the unpacking.

"Huh? Oh! Oh yeah, just a sec, just gonna finish this quest…" he drabbled, only glancing up from his phone briefly and never stopping tapping the screen. Soon enough the small fanfare sounded to signal his victory, and grinning, he stuffed the phone into his pocket and pushed himself off the car. "So, what can I do ya for?" he slipped, accidentally going into Cindy's rural dialect; they had said their goodbyes to their friends in the morning before heading out from Hammerhead, and the memory of the woman was still clear in his mind.

"Well, I'm sure she could do you anyway she wanted, and you wouldn't mind." He took delight in seeing color flush over the freckled face, the blond choking on his own breath.

"H-hey! That's… private!"

"Sure. More like imaginary," Gladio smirked. "You're not denying it, though."

"How 'bout we leave it at that?" Prompto grumbled as he pushed past him to grab a few bags. He had become to regret ever opening his big mouth about his crush on Cindy. Whenever they were anywhere near Hammerhead, he never heard the end of it. And the big guy had some mouth to him! They could cook an egg on Prompto's face whenever Gladio teased him about that.

Chuckling, the shield showed him mercy and said no more as he gathered what was left in the trunk, and they headed towards the accommodations. Prompto was pouting a little, a blush still tinting his cheeks, and he avoided looking at the other. "S-so, what's the room number?" the blond asked, aiming for casual but coming out a little timid. If the other noticed it, though, he ignored it.

"106. The lady at the front desk said it'd be the last door on this aisle," he replied sincerely.

"Ugh, awesome! I'm ready to just hit the shower and hit the bunk," the other almost cheered.

"Not yet you're not. Iggy's gonna have your ass if you're going to bed without dinner," he smirked.

"Dude, I meant shower, dinner, then bunk. I'm not missing out on Ignis' cooking!" Prompto replied with a smirk of his own.

They reached the room and wasted no time in getting in. It was a neatly decorated room with rural style furniture and a large window for good lighting. Two twin beds were situated next to the entrance, and as soon as Prompto got his hands free, he splayed himself over one. "Aah! Heaven!" he almost sighed.

"C'mon now. The drive wasn't that bad." Gladio had neatly placed the luggage over the windowsill couch and took a seat on the other bed. "So, did you get any nice shots today?" he asked, genuinely interested.

Sitting up as if he'd been hit with a lightning bolt, the younger man laughed in excitement, "Oh yeah! I forgot to show you…" He scrolled to the shot he meant and handed the camera over. Dark brows rose in appreciation.

"Huh. Not bad." It was a shot of a herd of Arbas, the creatures seemingly undisturbed by the commotion as they were browsing around. One was lying in the ground, while the bull was looking at the camera, its large antlers making it look majestic.

"Yeah, I'm pretty happy about that one, too," he smiled as he switched the camera back off again. "Hey, do you think they'll be taking much longer? I mean, Old Lestallum isn't that big."

The other gave a soft laugh. "Well, if it's up to Iggy, they might spend the rest of the night tasting those spices," he chuckled. "Honestly though, they should be back soon."

Gladio had texted them the room number, and after about half an hour or so, a few firm knocks behind the door signaled their return. "I apologize for the delay," Ignis noted, not sounding sorry at all. Setting a few things onto the table, he stepped into the kitchen area and got the stove on.

Noctis had slumped into an armchair, one leg comfortably over the other. "So, whatcha making, Specs?"

"Oven-braised sea bass with a warm side of local vegetables," Ignis told without sparing him a glance.

"Well, it has the word 'bass' in it", the prince grimaced a little at the mention of the accompanying nonsense. The strategist made a frustrated sound.

"A well-balanced diet would be a wise choice, Your Highness. That is, unless you wish to gain weight." Noctis arched a brow.

"You saying I'm fat?" he asked incredulously. The adviser smirked.

"Of course not, Your Highness."

"Well, you could try and work some muscle into those spaghettis," Gladio teamed up with him. "Might actually stop mistaking you for a girl." Noctis gave him the finger.

Almost everyone had freshened up by the time dinner was done. Ignis had picked out an herbal selection for the fish, and it was agreed it really made a difference. The brisk aroma of the herbs balanced out the natural saltiness of the fish, really bringing out the umami. It was mouth-watering.

"So, what's tomorrow about anyway?" Noctis asked when everyone was done with their meal. "You said you found a hunt."

"Yes, well, I happened to talk with a few hunters in Hammerhead's diner and learned that a flight of wyverns are terrorizing the outpost of Ravatogh trail and nearby areas. The hunters have been requested for help, but so far with thin results, I'm afraid," Ignis explained. "And we are getting thin with money."

"Sounds easy enough for me," Gladio nodded.

"Isn't a wyvern, like, a dragon?!" Prompto sounded equally excited as he was impressed. Ignis' face was stern.

"I suppose so, although you may scrap any fantasies of breathing fire and speaking in ancient languages. Wyverns can, however, create strong gales and are strong enough to carry a man, which is why the locals are getting anxious. So far the beasts have apparently only taken a dog, but I should hope we wouldn't allow them a chance to take anything, or anyone, else." An eerie silence settled around them as the words sunk.

Noctis nodded, looking determined, "Alright then. We'll leave early."

Slow steps were muffled greatly by the heavy layers of fabric sweeping the ground around him. The soft shuffling echoed in the high stone walls as the figure took his time walking. He chuckled a little at the thought; he himself would stand waiting for nothing, but the world would wait for Iedolas Aldercapt. As the corridor opened into a veranda, the man spotted whom he was expecting to meet here. Grin spreading to show teeth, he strolled to take place beside the other on the balcony overlooking the city.

"Are you certain of this, Chancellor?"

The smile on Ardyn Izunia's face grew cold as he nearly purred, "You can rest easy, Your Grace. I will not fail."

"And we'll have the boy?"

The grin widened into a smirk, "Him, or whichever piece of him you should desire."

The cloaked man shook his head, "No. Bring him to me alive." Ardyn had to stop himself from sniggering at that. He understood the implications of those words. "I want to see for myself how the light leaves his eyes. And then, Chancellor, then those eyes shall never gaze upon my Crystal again!"