Final Fantasy XV: Silence and Love

Warning: Nightmares (slightly sexual, "bad-touch"), a bit of angst, a bit of fluff

Chapter 4

Prompto was surrounded in thick darkness again.

His arms and legs strapped down to a metal table. The metal cuffs digging into his bare wrists and ankles, almost making them bleed. The horrible stench of disinfectants and blood burning his nose and eyes. The sound of beeping, metal clinking together, and faded screams echoing through his ears.

The coldness from the metal table he laid on seeps through his flimsy, white gown. He couldn't move or speak. He couldn't do anything to escape.

No...

He knew what's going to happen next. He didn't want to be here. He doesn't want that man to be near him.

"Hello, my dear boy," a deep, baritone voice rings through the air. The voice of that man sends sheer panic and fear into every part of Prompto's body.

He wants to cry. He want to get out. He doesn't want to be alone with this man.

"Don't look so frighten, my lovely. I am here now. You don't need to be afraid anymore," the voice said, soothingly and lovingly. It makes Prompto want to vomit. Horrible things happens when this man use that tone. He wants to turn his eyes away from looking into those lustful amber ones.

But he can't; that man wouldn't let him. A large, rough hand took a hold of his chin and the man's face was an inch close to his own. Another hand slowly moves up inside the white gown he wore and they stopped at his bare hip, clutching possessively and tightly. Prompto shivered at the coldness those hands emitted into his skin.

Please stop…

"It's such a shame to have someone as beautiful as you be part of this unsavory project, but I cannot deny your father's wishes," the man sighs forlornly, almost sounding sad. "But have no fear, my dear boy. Soon, I will convince your father that you are not meant to be here. And then…"

The hand on Prompto's chin moves upward to rest against his tearstained cheek. When did he cry? The man moves closer with their lips almost touching. Amber eyes burned into his own blue-violet ones.

"You will be at my side. The place you are meant to be."

Suddenly, a pale-blue light burst through the thick darkness. The man immediately reeled back and everything around Prompto began to vanish into nothing.

"You will not do anything to him!"

Prompto woke with a start. His chest heaving heavily and his tears were blurring his vision. Sitting up, he roughly wiped his eyes, hiccuping as he catches his breath.

When Prompto became more calm and his mind more clear, he realized he was leaning against a shady tree. Around him was a field filled with a few trees and many types flowers. The sky was cloudless and the sun shining with all its might. Despite the tranquil scenery, Prompto was confused and worried waking up to a foreign place.

Where am I?

"Prompto kupo!"

"Kweh!"

Familiar twin cries broke his worries and a relieved smile replaced his frown. Looking at the direction of his friend's voices, he held his arms out for them. Before long, he was smothered by yellow and white fluff. The blond wrapped his arms around both of them.

"We were so scared kupo! Prompto was in trouble again kupo! Happy that Prompto is safe kupo!" Koko cried, overjoyed at the fact his caretaker wasn't alone in the dark anymore.

"Kweh, kweh!" Kiki chirped happily. She buried herself further into Prompto's chest, not wanting to separate from him.

This was the first time all three of them were together after that kind of nightmare. The first time Prompto felt so relieved after experiencing his worst terror yet again. Closing his eyes, he silently cried into the warm embrace of his precious friends.

Maybe this time, his darkness wouldn't hurt him anymore. Maybe it was alright for him to hopefully wish for the unattainable.

But for now, Prompto can only soaked in the warmth, comfort, and love Koko and Kiki are giving to him in their embrace.

Not far from the three, Carbuncle watched while softly grinned at the love and bond they all shared with one another. The fox felt proud of himself for shattering the blond's worst nightmare and reuniting him with the moogle and little chocobo.

His satisfaction, however, was short lived as the fox recalled the darkness he penetrated through. It was cold, vile, and filled with pure despair and sorrow. It wasn't like anything Carbuncle ever experience before, even when standing alongside the royal family who combat against the same darkness for many generations.

To think this youngling was put through such torture. The Astrals are cruel towards Their Chosens, yet this doesn't surprises me one bit. How much more will They take before everything disappears?

Carbuncle shook his head in disgust. This wasn't the time for him to preach, but this was certainly putting the fox over the edge. Sighing, he composed himself before slowly walking towards the still embraced forms.

"Hello there Prompto," the fox said, controlled and soft.

Prompto shot his head up and almost gave himself a whiplash to find the being who called for him. Blue-violet eyes widen at the sight of a pale-blue fox with a red horn looking straight at him. The blond tighten his hold around his friends as he backs up against the shady tree he was leaning against moments ago.

"Don't be scare kupo! Carbuncle is kind kupo! Won't hurt Prompto kupo!" Koko hurriedly mediated. The moogle didn't want his caretaker to be weary of his old friend.

"Kweh, kweh!" Kiki chirped in agreement. She turned towards her larger companion, eyeing him to use his magic on her. The moogle complied and soon enough, Kiki was able to get her words across. "Prompto won't get hurt here. Carbuncle was the one who rescued Prompto from his nightmare. He kept Prompto safe!"

Koko nodded, "And he let us enter into your dreamscape kupo. He didn't want you to be alone when you wake up kupo."

Prompto nervously shifted his eyes back and forth from the two in his arms to the fox. Their words dispelled some of his apprehension growing inside his chest, but he can't seem to put his guard down.

It must have shown plainly on his face because the fox said, "I won't come any closer unless you allow me to. You don't have to trust me or anything. Just know that I cannot hurt you here. This is your dreamscape, Prompto."

After a few moments of hesitations and whisper encouragements from both Koko and Kiki, Prompto swallowed his anxiety and tentatively held one of his hands out for the fox. Carbuncle, in turn, walked towards the hand, stopping about a centimeter away. It was Prompto's move if he wishes to cross the bridge between him and the fox.

Almost painfully slow, the blond cupped his trembling fingers under Carbuncle's chin. The fox closed his eyes, relishing in the nervous yet gentle touch. He can feel the fingers trembling less and slowly scratches him. Carbuncle couldn't help but purred at the treatment.

Prompto let out a tiny smile after hearing the fox purred. He relaxed considerably and let Koko and Kiki out of his hold. The blond felt content of sitting with his precious friends and possibly a new friend.

"I hate to break up this moment kupo, but you need to tell Prompto kupo," Koko said, relunctant of breaking the comforting atmosphere. Kiki chirped in agreement as she snuggles back into Prompto's shirt.

Carbuncle sighed, knowing they were right. He moved away from Prompto's hand and sat up straighter. "We will have plenty of time afterwards to get to know each other, but there are somethings you need to know now before you have to wake up in your world."

Prompto tilted his head, confused at the fox's words. His blue-violet eyes shone curiosity and wonder.

Said fox couldn't help but chuckle at the blond's adorable action.

Oh, Noctis is DOOM. He will never win against you.

Composing himself, Carbuncle continued, "Anyways, I already told you that this is your dreamscape. We are in your mind. The current land we are seeing is actually your main subconscious, your safe zone to put it simply. My name is Carbuncle by the way and one of my abilities is entering into people's dreams or their subconsciouses. I was asked by Koko and Kiki to extract you from the nightmare you were in moments ago. Understand so far?"

Prompto nodded as he petted the moogle and little chocobo to express his gratitude.

"In your dreamscape, you have the power to control what's going on in here. You may think you can't, but you need to believe you can. Any doubt, fear, sorrow, or any of the like will set you back. This is why you couldn't get out of your nightmares. From what I saw in your nightmare and from what your friends been telling me, I understand why you can't do anything," the fox said, looking at Prompto with sorrowful eyes. "No one should ever experienced what you went through."

Prompto flinched, looking down as tears threaten to fall because he didn't want anyone to know about his past and terrors. He didn't want anyone to see or hear about him being so broken.

He didn't want anyone seeing him at his most vulnerable point.

He didn't want anyone to see him of who he truly is: filthy and dirty.

Prompto was broken out of his thoughts by three bodies wrapping themselves around him.

"Prompto shouldn't be sad because we are here kupo. He will never go back to that place again kupo," Koko whispered soothingly.

"We will never let anyone take you away. You're ours. They can't have you back," Kiki chirped softly.

"Listen to them, you are not alone. You will never be alone or hurt because we won't let it happen. This may seem to be a tall order, but we will do everything we can to achieve that," said Carbuncle, determination oozing from his vow.

The blond choked back a sob from their words. He wrapped his arms around the three, not wanting to let go.

Carbuncle continued on, "Even if we can't fulfill that promise, then someone else can. Someone who have been by your side. Someone who didn't let go of your hand even when everything seems hopeless. That someone was the same person who you look after all this time. You change that person to be better even if it's a little. When you wake up, that someone will be the first person you see. You can trust them. You can believe in them. And most of all, you can love them."

Prompto listened to every single word the fox tells him. He wants to take the risk of believing those words. Believing he could grasp onto that attainable wish even if it meant going through unimaginable pain once more.

And so, he choose to believe in them.

A burst of light flooded all around him. It was really warm.

Prompto slowly woke up, his eyes blurry from sleepiness. He could barely move, but he might as well not move at all. The bed underneath him was probably the most comfiest and softest bed he ever laid on.

The blond tried to move his right hand to wipe away the tiredness from his eyes, but something was holding onto it tightly. Shifting his head to the right, He tried to focus his eyes since he wasn't wearing his glasses.

The first thing Prompto sees was a mop of raven hair.

The second thing he sees was the fact someone with raven hair is lying close beside him.

The third thing he sees was the fact that the person with raven hair who is also lying beside him is Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum.

Normally, Prompto would have panic, scramble away, and maybe try to hide. But because of his foggy mind and sleepiness, the blond doesn't have it in him to care.

"When you wake up, that someone will be the first person you see. You can trust them. You can believe in them. And most of all, you can love them."

Recalling Carbuncle's words, Prompto unconsciously squeezed the hand holding his right one. His action caused the raven beside him to groan softly.

Noctis shifted around, groaning at the fact someone was trying to wake him up. He was sure he told Ignis not wake him up. Grumbling, he reluctantly opened his blue eyes to see a pair of blue-violets staring at him.

Any normal person with common sense would have immediately sit up and explain themselves. Noctis isn't any normal person who uses common sense (just ask Gladio or Ignis) and just plainly said, "Hey…"

He was also not good at speaking eloquently apparently.

Prompto didn't reply back. The blond only stared at Noctis for a moment before letting out a small but genuine smile. A smile that could have been the sun itself. Blue-violet eyes shone relief, gentleness, and joy.

Noctis can't help but be mesmerized at such purity in front of him.

Wow…

Author's Note: I know we said that all the boys will officially meet in this chapter, but some things happened and the story decided to take another path. I promise that they will meet officially in the next chapter. There isn't anything but that!

BLANK: Hey, at least Prompto officially meet Carbuncle. That's gotta count for something. Also, if you anyone notices that Prompto wasn't speaking even though he was in his dreamscape, there is a reason for it. We are not telling though. You just have to find out later.

To those who wanted to know the ages of the boys, here it is:

(officially here in this story, the date somewhere around mid-May)

Noctis: 12 (turns 13 in that year on August 30)

Prompto: 12 (turns 13 in that year on October 25)

Ignis: 15 (just turn that year)

Gladiolus: 16 (just turn that year)

BLANK: Also, Happy Birthday Gladio! Special birthday present from us to the readers here.

Also, we couldn't post things on AO3 because of the technical issues the site is experiencing lately. As much as we want to, we can't afford the risk just yet. We are thinking about it though.