Ardyn

He couldn't believe how easy it was to get Prompto from his friends. He loved the scene that he got to watch unfold before him perfectly, it was almost as if the friends had rehearsed a tragic play. He loved replaying that moment in his head when Noctis realized what he had done, he lavished in the thought of the other feeling guilt and harboring the pain of not knowing if his friend was dead or not. But he adores the the thought of what Prompto must be feeling, what he must be thinking, and what he will soon endure.

Ardyn walks along the long dark quiet hall lined with various cell doors and empty dorms both long since abandoned. He hums a tune as he thinks up of all the ways he can break Prompto while he takes his time reaching the cell at the end of the hall and when he reaches it he peers inside barely making out the slumped form of his captive who was fast asleep. Ardyn smirks as he knocks on the bars earning a groan from Prompto who sat up slowly blinking, he looked puzzled as to why it was so dark.

"Enjoyed your nap Sleeping Beauty?" Ardyn teases as Prompto grabs his head shaking it slightly probably trying to rid the pain that resonates within his skull. "You look bad, that fall was pretty nasty." Ardyn teases as he rests his face against the rusty bars "Do you remember it? Do you recall the tumble you took Humpty Dumpty?"

Prompto only sat there quietly still feeling out of it "Hmmm. Well I could've sworn you were more talkative than this." He teases this time Prompto looks up his eyes hardly adjusting to the dark but he didn't utter a word. Ardyn simply laughs he knew he had time to spare "Don't worry, you don't have to talk right now." He said using his magic to force Prompto onto the ground and drag him over on his belly and when he was close enough Ardyn flicked his wrist causing Prompto to twist around violently and slam against the bars unable to move a muscle "But know this..." Ardyn says grabbing Prompto by the throat squeezing it tightly causing the younger male to make choking sounds "I will get you to talk and you will tell me everything..." He uses his free hand to turn Prompto's head to the right and he leans in close to his ear whispering "and if you refuse, struggle, fight back, or even stay silent. You will spill your guts." He growls recalling the spell sending the blonde to the ground.

He watches as Prompto rolls onto his side grabbing his throat as he starts coughing and wheezing for air as Ardyn walks away cackling leaving a wave of red energy in his wake.

When Ardyn left he had made his way up to the second highest level of the tower and enters a room full of computers and strange machines. He enters through several doors until he reaches a back room with various shelves and knick knacks, he moves further into the room looking for something that could easily be used to break Prompto. He wanted it to be simple, but would leave him trembling at the sight or thought. He wanted it to leave a ever lasting effect on him for when he sees or comes in contact with something that looks or resembles whatever it is that he will use will make him tremble. Oh the options were limitless but right when he was about to summon his own desired item he saw it. It was in the back with a sheet thrown over it.

He walks up to it curiously and lifts a hand to the sheet only to tug it down viciously.

"This...this is perfect." He whispers, standing before him was a large contraption in a X shape, a the center on the sides were slots which Ardyn figured something would come out of. At the top on either sides were straps for ones wrist and at the bottom were straps for ankles. It looked like a device you would find in the laboratory of a mad scientist and Ardyn loved it.

"I wonder if my little friend is ready to play."

Ardyn reappears in front of Prompto who was using his phone "Nice try, figured you'd try to call them so I took down the signal...or maybe they just don't want to answer you...perhaps they feel like a burden has finally been lifted." He says unlocking the cell door, once open Prompto leaps at him tackling Ardyn to the ground. Ardyn growls a bit grabbing the younger man by the back of his vest throwing him to the side and knocking the air out of him. Quickly recovering, Prompto scrambles up to his feet and charges at Ardyn who was now standing. When Prompto was close enough Ardyn lifts his leg and kicks Prompto in the groin causing him to fall curling onto himself withering in agony with his hands in between his legs. "The fool playing the role of the Hero always ends in tragedy. I can tell you right now where you'll end up if you keep this act up." He says delivering a kick to the side of Prompto's head leaving a long cut on the side of his head which began to bleed.

Ardyn could see Prompto shaking as he rolls over getting onto his hands and knees "Are you seriously trying to fight?" Ardyn asks as Prompto slowly stands back up his breathing is laboured and he can feel his hands shaking as he throws his hand out to summon his gun yet nothing appeared. Prompto glances down as he throws his hand out several times only for the same outcome to occur.

Ardyn roars with laughter as he reaches into his coat and pulls out the photographer's gun "Is this what you're trying to conjure?" He says twirling it by the loop near the trigger "I have actually grown to like this weapon...I think it's the design. Or maybe it's the fact..." He points the weapon at its owner causing Prompto to flinch "That you don't have it anymore." Ardyn says tucking the weapon away "I sealed your ability to summon weapons so tough luck." He laughs as Prompto clenched his fist.

"I don't need my gun to fight you!" Ardyn heard him say wiping his forehead and seconds later the young blonde was running at the mauve haired man with his fist raised, when Prompto was within range he threw his arm forward with all his power and full intention to punch the other but his fist flies through red smoke and connects with the wall skinning his knuckles. Prompto pulls his hand back shaking it vigorously as he jumps up and down blowing on the hand before putting his knuckles to his mouth.

"My aren't you hilarious."

Prompto looks over his shoulder only to see Ardyn standing behind him, Prompto was slow to react as Ardyn kicks him sending him flying across the hall and rolling as he hits the ground before he smashed into the wall at the other end near the door. Prompto laid there reaching his limit for he was still recovering from his fall off the train.

He pushes his arms underneath himself as he tries to pick himself up but his arms felt like jelly and he was back on the ground. Ardyn loved the idea of Prompto lacking the energy to keep fighting, he places a foot on Prompto's back and grinds it into his shoulder, harder and harder until Prompto let's out a cry which turns into a scream.

"Music to my ears." He says as he tangles his hands into Prompto's hair and yanking his head back "I love that sound...I must hear it again. Go on little Chocobo chirp for me." He says grinning, the sound did please him it wasn't a lie. He loves the empowering feeling it filled him with.

However when he watches as Prompto squeezes his eyes shut and when he failed to scream Ardyn slams his face against the floor causing him to choke on his breath "I said scream." Yet Prompto shook his head uttering a pathetic squeak of a reply in protest.

Ardyn didn't like that answer, he didn't like feeling he was being deprived of power and he was going to do what it took to hear the cry and feel powerful so he pulls hard on Prompto's hair and slams his head down once again "Scream!" The bigger man shouts but seeing as how the blonde continues to refuse, to continue to deprive Ardyn of his need the older man uses his magic to flip Prompto on his back "I. Said. SCREAM!" He booms using his magic to twist and snap Prompto's leg and follows up with breaking his knee making the blonde scream out as white hot pain shot up his leg.

"Beautiful." Ardyn said as he turns facing Prompto who had a hand over his mouth. "Aww, going to be sick are we?" Prompto doesn't respond he rolls onto his belly with his injured leg out to the side as he ends up heaving onto the floor. Ardyn smirks at the young man on the ground, seeing him in this state was absolutely amazing though he wished it were Noctis instead.

"Now is that any way to treat my place? I know the floor is dirty but that doesn't give you any right to add your own filth."

Ardyn grabs Prompto by the arm yanking him up to his feet earing him a cry of pain from Prompto as he casts a spell on him to make him walk. Having all his weight on his broken leg made the blonde fight back tears and whimpers "Lets take a walk Chocobo." Ardyn taunts as grins seeing tears well up in his captives eyes. He loved knowing that Prompto hadn't enough sense to hide his feelings. So Ardyn continues to use his magic to tug on the other forcing him to walk as if he was a mere marionette on invisible strings.

Ardyn couldn't wait to unleash all that he had in store for Prompto, if he didn't break Prompto then at least he could relish in the thought that what he has in store will break him mentally.


Prompto

"Guys we gotta head out soon, we should probably get some potions." Prompto says climbing out of the Regalia. Noctis nods "Finally being helpful..." He taunts playfully with his back to the blonde. "Prompto being helpful, what's the occasion?" Gladio jokes crossing his arms oddly enough he too had his back to Prompto. "I say it's called maturity." Ignis adds and like the others his back was to Prompto as if all three were shunning him.

Prompto thought nothing of it though as the three of them walked into the store. Like his friends the man behind the counter had his back to Prompto. Prompto looked a little confused but shrugs as he begins to reach out to Noctis he places a hand on his shoulder "Hey Noct." He says causing the soon to be king to turn slightly...

A loud metallic banging sounds pulls Prompto out of the sweet clutches of sleep he couldn't see anything for a moment and it left him confused. Was it night time? He looks around a bit more before his eyes began to adjust to the dark and what he saw filled him with a mix of emotions, it was Ardyn. Prompto was about to say something when his head decided to let him know how much pain he was in. It felt like someone took a sledgehammer to his skull as he grabs at his scalp groaning in dizzying pain. He heard Ardyn tease him but Prompto didn't respond.

"You look bad, that fall was pretty nasty. Do you remember it? Do you recall the tumble you took Humpty Dumpty?"

Prompto refused to speak to him mostly because he wasn't feeling good but also because he didn't want him to feel like he had accomplished some small victory. Prompto did remember falling, he remembers the fear he felt looking in Noctis's eyes and how he silently pleaded with any higher being that may be looking down on him to save him, to have Noctis save him. He remembers seeing brief moments of his happy memories flash before his eyes before blacking out.

"Hmmm. Well I could've sworn you were more talkative than this."

Prompto wanted to glare, to say something, he just wanted to make it known that he was irritated by the older man and his presence but he didn't have the strength.

"Don't worry, you don't have to talk right now."

He heard Ardyn say and seconds later he felt something wrap around his body squeezing him as if a massive snake wrapped around him tightly. Ardyn was using his magic on him, Prompto felt his body slam on the ground as the older man drags him over on his belly and when he was close enough he felt himself twist around violently and flying through the air as if he had been in a slingshot. He slams against the bars unable to move a muscle despite trying to move his arms and legs "But know this..." He hears Ardyn say as his large cold hand grabs Prompto by the throat squeezing it tightly causing the younger male to begin making choking sounds as the air slow started to leave him.

"I will get you to talk and you will tell me everything..." Prompto could feel Ardyn's grip tighten as he forcibly turns his head to the right and the other leans in close to his ear and Prompto could feel his breath on his neck making his hair tickle the skin on the side of his face as he began whispering the rest of the sentence "and if you refuse, struggle, fight back, or even stay silent. You will spill your guts." Ardyn growls as recalls the spell, Prompto felt the coil around him loosen before falling to the ground with a thud.

It felt impossible for Prompto to get in air almost like he forgot how to breathe and he was left choking and gasping as Ardyn leaves him alone in the dark cackling like a madman.

When he was gone and Prompto finally calms down he begins to look around the cell for any way out. He knew better than to try the obvious way out for it would've gave with his weight. He looks around moving the boxes out of the way that were in the corners and kicking the hay to the side that was supposed to work as his bed hoping to find a key or a pick. But his searches turns up empty handed making him fall to his knees in exhaustion "How is it that Noct always finds items useful or not in the most random of places?" He mumbles to himself crossing his arms and tilting his head to the left.

He sat there for a moment trying to think through the dizzying pain that continues to ring through his skull. He however gave up minutes later when the thoughts failed to form clearly. He got to his feet stumbling over himself as he made his way to the cell bars and presses against it with all of his weight testing their strength. He frowns realizing that despite how old they look like they held their strength.

"This is probably a bad idea...but..." He says trailing off as he backs all the up against the wall facing the metal bars before racing towards them with his shoulder aimed at them. The blonde slams into them causing them to rattle and shake as he fell onto his knees with his forehead on the ground and his left hand gripping his right shoulder "Yeah...should've known...not so great idea Prompto..." He says scolding himself.

He gets up patting himself down hoping he had a pin, a paper clip, or something on himself that he could use as a lock pick but he came up empty handed. He looks down at his vest wondering if one of the buttons would fit in the lock but quickly thought against the idea for he didn't want to be trapped permanently.

He sighs slumping to the ground almost in defeat when he suddenly brushed his hand against his pocket feeling a hard lump making his heart nearly stop. "Aww man, I forgot I had you." He says excitedly pulling out his phone pushing on the button to turn it on. He was however devastated to find the screen smashed and littered with scratches when it turned on but it seemed to work fine.

He pressed the speaker icon not wanting to end up cut by his phone "Text..." He pauses for a moment as a brief wave of hesitation hits him. He wasn't sure if this was the right choice, but he didn't know who else to turn to "Text Noct..." He say as clearly as possible despite the tremble in his voice. The phone bings bringing him to the message screen where he pushes on the speaker again "Noct...are you there?" He says "Send." He orders as the message buffers for a few seconds before going through.

He sighs relieved knowing that his phone works at least so he had a chance to get out quickly.

Five minutes pass and Prompto sends another message after not hearing from Noctis.

Ten minutes pass and he had sent about three more messages.

Fifteen minutes and Prompto decided to text Gladio seeing that Noctis wasn't responding to him.

Prompto gave up texting his friends about an hour and a half in, he settled with drawing his knees up to his chest and laid his head on them. Did his friends see the messages? Maybe they saw them and they're just too busy to respond...but if they saw them then that means they could text right? Maybe the signal was down...but then that doesn't explain why his phone was able to send messages...it shouldn't be able to do that right?

So many thoughts went through his head as he tried to figure out or come to terms with being ignored. He wished Ignis was alright so he could respond to his texts. The accented young man was always quick to answer calls and respond to texts no matter the situation.

He glances at the phone and sighs he couldn't help but recall the look on Noctis's face and the anger he felt towards him. It made Prompto shudder as he touches the slash on his belly and his chest "Noctis is my friend, he never would...he wouldn't hurt me...he wasn't thinking straight."

"Is that so...then explain this...and this..."

Prompto continues to lightly stroke the wounds "Noct...you wouldn't hurt me right? Please...let me be right." He whispers as he glances at the phone.

He pulls the device close and clicks the side button, he could barely make out the image of him and Noctis together posing.

He lifted his phone to see the picture closer when he heard footsteps grow louder and louder as he suddenly heard the voice that made his skin crawl "Nice try, figured you'd try to call them so I took down the signal...or maybe they just don't want to answer you...perhaps they feel like a burden has finally been lifted."

"Please let it be the signal...it has to be the signal...they wouldn't...they don't feel that way about me. They shouldn't because we're friends...but mostly because they don't know...what I am."

Prompto struggled to come to terms with reasoning the silence on his friends end. He was upset and he wasn't sure how to correctly extinguish the pain so he settled with attacking Ardyn. And lucky for him because the cell just opened, with a burst of speed he leaps at Arydn quietly pretending to have preformed a Warp Strike like Noctis.

Prompto was seconds away from singing the victory fanfare when he was grabbed by the back of his vest and thrown. Prompto sat up shaking his head before he scrambles up to his feet and once again charges at Ardyn.

However the younger male didn't notice that Ardyn had started to lift his leg back. The seconds that follow Prompto saw nothing but white as sharp hot pain explodes from his lower regions causing him to fall to ground curling onto himself withering in agony as he mentally screams.

"The fool playing the role of the Hero always ends in tragedy. I can tell you right now where you'll end up if you keep this act up."

He can hear Ardyn say from somewhere above him before feeling a sharp kick to the side of his head, he didn't know the extent of the damage until he feels the wound begin to bleed.

Prompto could feel himself shaking uncontrollably as he rolls over getting onto his hands and knees. For he knew that he needed to fight this man. He wanted to win and have Noctis and the others praise him for he wanted to show them that he wasn't useless and that he wasn't a burden to them.

"They don't really feel that way...that's just Ardyn messing with my head, right?"

"Are you seriously trying to fight?"

Ardyn speaks but Prompto ignores him as he slowly stands feeling sluggish, his breathing is laboured and he can feel his hands shaking as he throws his hand out the side trying to summon his gun.

Yet nothing appeared in his hand.

Prompto tried again.

And again.

And again.

The blonde felt his face heat up with embarrassment when he slowly realized that his gun wasn't going to be appearing any time soon. And his embarrassment grew when he heard Ardyn roar with laughter as he reaches into his coat causing Prompto to follow his hand with his eyes, however what he saw made him narrow them.

The other had his gun holding it up waving it like it was a trophy "Is this what you're trying to conjure?" He says twirling it by the loop near the trigger. Prompto was cautious, he didn't know if Ardyn knew how dangerous that was or if he was just trying to scare him but Prompto was prepared to dodge any bullets that may end up shooting out of his weapon.

"I have actually grown to like this weapon...I think it's the design. Or maybe it's the fact..." Ardyn suddenly points the weapon at Prompto making him flinch he wasn't to sure if he should surrender or hold his ground. It was an odd feeling for the gunmen to have his own gun aimed at him twice already "That you don't have it anymore." Ardyn says tucking the weapon away as Prompto relaxed a bit "I sealed your ability to summon weapons so tough luck." He laughs as Prompto clenched his fist.

"I don't need my gun to fight you!"

The words just spilled out of his mouth like most of the things he says do and Prompto for once wasn't to sure if those were the best words to use in this situation. But he wanted to believe them, he wanted to feel the truth that lied with in them. He lifts his arm to wipe the blood from his forehead and he soon found himself running at the mauve haired man with his fist raised, and when he was within range he threw his arm forward with all his power and full intention to punch the other.

However something about Ardyn seemed wrong and only when Prompto saw his fist fly through red smoke and head straight into the wall in front of him did realize he messed up. He ends up skinning his knuckles as a cracking sound follows. Prompto let's out a weird sound as he pulls his hand back shaking it vigorously. He knew he must've looked silly jumping up and down blowing on the hand before he puts his knuckles to his mouth sucking on the raw area.

"My aren't you hilarious."

Prompto looks over his shoulder only to see Ardyn standing behind him, Prompto still trying to sooth his hand is slow to react as Ardyn kicks him in the gut. He feels himself lift off the ground and soar clean across the hall before crashing to the ground rolling until his back and body smash into the wall at the other end of the hallway near the door that Ardyn had entered through. Prompto struggles to suck in air as he laid there crumpled he could feel that he was reaching his limit for he was still recovering from his fall off the train.

However he knew he couldn't give up just yet he pushes his arms underneath himself as he tries to pick himself up but his arms felt like jelly and he was soon back on the ground. Ardyn must've loved the idea of seeing him lacking the energy and strength to keep fighting.

Ardyn approaches him and places a foot on Prompto's back and the younger male can feel the heel of the man's footwear grinding into his shoulder, it got harder and harder until it became unbearable and Prompto let's out a cry which turns into a scream.

For the record Prompto hates screaming due to pain, it hurt him for he felt like it made him weak and vulnerable. He wanted to prove that he was capable of tolerating pain, like Gladio can, and he hoped that doing so would make Ardyn lose interest in him but so far he has gotten him to scream many times.

"Music to my ears."

Ardyn says as Prompto feels him tangle his hand into his hair yanking his head back with such force the blonde would've swore that he was going to have his neck broken "I love that sound...I must hear it again. Go on little Chocobo chirp for me." He says grinning, Prompto swallows as he began to pant for air. He was staring to hate the word Chocobo which was a downer for him because he loved the bird. But this man is ruining it for him so instead of following the order Prompto looks away briefly before squeezing his eyes shut he refused to make this easy for this creep. Ardyn must've knew he was going to rebel because seconds later Prompto found his face against the floor causing him to choke on his breath "I said scream." Yet Prompto shook his head uttering a pathetic squeak of a reply in protest.

It was clear that Ardyn didn't like that answer, and Prompto knew it. The bigger man couldn't help but show his anger by he pulling harder on Prompto's hair and slams his head down once again "Scream!" The bigger man screams causing Prompto's ears to ring but but the blonde continues to stay silent.

Prompto must've angered him for he suddenly found himself on his back as a deep roar escapes from Ardyn.

"I. Said. SCREAM!"

Prompto felt the coil feeling once more this time it was only around his leg and fear began to seize his body as he looks down at his leg in terror for he didn't know what to expect.

SNAP!

He felt and heard his leg break like a twig with his toes now pointing down to his chest and belly.

SNAP!

This time it was his knee that was broken.

The pain was something else, words would not justify the pain he was in for all Prompto could do was scream at the top of his lungs as tears raced down his face. He screams and sobs as he struggles to grab for his leg wishing for this moment to be nothing more than a nightmare that he would wake from.

"Beautiful."

Ardyn had begun speaking again but Prompto wasn't listening he was in excruciating pain which was growing by the second. It had gotten so bad that he felt his stomach become queasy and his mouth floods with water he knew he was going to be sick.

"Aww, going to be sick are we?"

Prompto doesn't respond his stomach at that point gave up and he was to weak from the pain to try and stop the churning feeling that was rising up to his throat so he rolls onto his belly with his injured leg out to the side and begins to empty his belly on the floor.

"Now is that any way to treat my place? I know the floor is dirty but that doesn't give you any right to add your own filth."

Prompto felt himself get lifted up by the arm and placed on his feet by Ardyn who started to cast a spell on him making Prompto walk on his busted leg. He was helpless against the spell and the pain was too much, he didn't want to cry again so he struggled to fight back tears and whimpers.

"Lets take a walk Chocobo." He heard Ardyn taunt, and the term Chocobo was used again but for Prompto it was irritating he knew he couldn't handle the word any more and his love for the bird was gone.

The once sweet and cute name was nothing more but a reminder of this pain he was currently feeling and he would rather not have to think of this moment ever again. He could feel Ardyn staring at him as tears filled his eyes and a grunt, hiss, or whimper would escape Prompto whenever his leg lifted or had pressure applied to it.

Prompto knew Ardyn had something big in store for him and he didn't want the man to have the satisfaction knowing he took down one of the members of the Crown's Guard. Prompto knew he couldn't let himself die at the hands of this creep. He had to live, he had to survive to see if Noctis is still his friend. To see if Noctis and the others still cared about him.

To hear Noctis say that he is the real him.